The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) of Guimaras has rescued 69 Hawksbill sea turtle hatchlings and returned them to their natural habitat.
A report by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Western Visayas (DENR VI) on Wednesday said PENRO Guimaras, through its Facebook page, received a report about the newly-hatched turtles that were first discovered and cared for by a resort owner and worker in the municipality of Nueva Valencia last month.
The Hawksbill sea turtle is a protected marine species under Philippine law and classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Guimaras, the DENR report said.
“After proper documentation, they were released back to their natural marine habitat in Barangay Dolores, Nueva Valencia,” it said.
Other than the 69 live hatchlings, they also found a weak hatchling, nine dead and 19 unhatched eggs.
“Sea turtles play an important role in biodiversity, like sponge control and maintaining the balance of our ecosystems by cultivating seagrass cover that provides a rich habitat for many species, such as fish, shellfish, and crustaceans,” the DENR said.
The DENR also urged the public to help in the protection and conservation of wildlife by reporting any sightings and illegal activities.
On Jan. 14, PENRO Guimaras also released two Green sea turtles –a female seen along the shoreline in Barangay Getulio, Buenavista on the same day; and a male turtle trapped in a fish corral in Barangay Panobolon, Nueva Valencia in December 2025. (PNA)
