A total of 127 Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) hatchlings were released into Baler Bay in a joint conservation effort by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the local government of Baler.
The hatchlings were released near the Aurora Watershed Forest Reserve protected area after the marine turtle nest was monitored by the DENR Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Dingalan and the Baler Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office.
DENR Community Environment Officer Jimmy Aberin said the activity forms part of continuing efforts to protect marine turtles and their nesting and feeding habitats.
The CENRO Dingalan Conservation and Development Section, Protected Area Management Office, and Baler environment personnel monitored the nest and facilitated the safe release of the hatchlings toward the Pacific Ocean.
DENR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo stressed that the successful release highlights the importance of sustained collaboration among government agencies, local communities, conservation groups, and other stakeholders in protecting marine ecosystems and biodiversity.
Meanwhile, DENR and local environment personnel continue to monitor two other marine turtle nesting sites in Baler, with hatchling emergence expected between September 9 and October 22.
