PERSONNEL of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) in Magsaysay, Zamboanga del Sur recently released 52 olive ridley turtle hatchlings in the province.
Rosevirico Tan, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) information officer, said the turtle hatchlings were released on Sunday, July 10, at the coastal area of Purok Naventad in Bulanit village, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.
The olive ridley turtles are listed as vulnerable by the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Although olive ridley turtles are not endangered, this still indicates a risk of extinction for the species.
Tan said the release on Sunday was the third batch of turtle hatchlings sent back to its natural habitat in the region.
The first was on July 6 wherein 94 green sea turtles were released at the coast of Kauswagan village in Baliguian, Zamboanga del Norte.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed green sea turtles as endangered since the decrease in its population due to hunting, loss of nesting sites and illegal poaching of eggs.
The second batch involved the release of 66 olive ridley turtle hatchlings, also on July 6, in the coastal area of Lower Bayao village, Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur. (SunStar Zamboanga)