Another leatherback turtle found in Camarines Sur

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Two and a half months after a giant leatherback turtle laid eggs along the shoreline of Albay Gulf here, another similar species was treated of its wounds and then released into the sea on Tuesday in Balatan, Camarines Sur, according to a regional official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Ruby Mendones, DENR-Bicol spokesperson, however, said the leatherback turtle that was wounded when it got entangled into a fishing gear called “barangayan” in Camarines Sur could not be the same turtle that laid at least 105 eggs in Barangay Rawis in this city last July 14.

Both turtles had no DENR tags, thus there is “no solid proof” that they are one and the same, she said.

Balatan Mayor Ernesto Bagasbas said the turtle measures 182 centimeters long and 96 centimeters wide, and weighs up to 500 kilos.

DENR biologists have preserved at least 20 of the 105 eggs of the leatherback turtle found here. All eggs did not hatch after the 62-day incubation period.