OFFICIALS and residents of Barangay Poblacion in Valladolid town along with personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR) released an olive ridley sea turtle which was reportedly trapped in a fishnet.
Village chairman Bill Kratzer told SunStar Bacolod that some residents of the barangay found the sea turtle locally known as "pawikan" inside a fishing net near the seashore at around 6 a.m. Sunday.
They immediately turned over the animal to the barangay which then coordinated with the DENR.
Kratzer said the "pawikan" weighs about 50 kilograms and is at least four meters in length.
"The sea turtle has no wounds or injuries," he added.
After the DENR conducted the tagging, the animal was released back to the water at around 9 a.m.
In 2017, a "pawikan" was also found in the shoreline of the barangay.
The village chief urges residents not to hurt any animal found in their area but instead report it immediately to authorities.