About 53 newly-hatched sea turtles were released after they were found at a beach resort in Brgy. Nauhang, Sipalay City, Monday morning, January 22.
The city’s Bantay Dagat Coordinator Edcel Toledo told DIGICAST NEGROS that they received reports that at about 2 a.m. on Monday the Saka-Saka Beach Resort caretaker noticed the turtle hatchlings in the resort premises.
He said that they suspect that these hatchlings are green sea turtles.
Toledo said the shoreline of Sipalay used to be a nesting site for turtles but because of development, few remained, usually in the less populous areas.
Barangays Nauhang, 5, 4, and parts of Maricalum and Kayhagan in Sipalay still serve as turtle nesting sites, he said.
Before the release of the turtles into the sea , members of Bantay Dagat held an orientation with the resort staff on how to handle newly hatched turtles.
Toledo also reminded the public, especially those who live by the shore of Sipalay to immediately contact the fishery, agriculture, or the environment office peronnel of the city government to assist them in releasing the turtles into the sea.
The presence of sea turtles indicates a healthy and clean environment, Toledo said.*