About 50-year-old ‘pawikan’ rescued in Albay

LEGAZPI CITY — Residents rescued a green sea turtle (pawikan) believed to be about 50 years old after finding it stranded along the shoreline of Sitio Banago, Barangay Alimsog in Santo Domingo, Albay on Friday, Sept. 25.

The male sea turtle, measuring about 28 inches wide and 39 inches long, was weak and had a dry carapace (hard outer shell) when found, apparently stranded during low tide.

The information comes from Dimple Catangay, municipal environment and natural resources officer.

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Residents covered the turtle with wet towels to keep its body moist while waiting for assistance.

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Eight people later helped lift and transport it to the Integrated Coastal Resource Management office in Legazpi City for veterinary treatment.

“Our priority was to save it and let it survive, so we did not waste time and brought it to a veterinarian,” Catangay said.

The turtle was given fluids and antibiotics.

An attempt to release it into the sea on Saturday morning was aborted after authorities found it still too weak.

Catangay said the rescue also showed the impact of the municipal government’s information and education campaign on wildlife protection, which encouraged residents to report stranded animals and seek proper assistance. /apl