Trapped green sea turtle to undergo operation for lump

By Rhaydz B. Barcia

LEGAZPI CITY --- A green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) trapped accidentally by a gill net, locally called pangke, in Barangay Rawis, San Miguel Island in Tabaco City on Sunday, Sept. 18, this year, will undergo operation due to a big lump on its neck.

Fisherman Isah Benosa Tanggo Jr., who saw the sea creature, said that he immediately reported the incident to the LGU Tabaco and to a group of fishers for immediate actions.

Daryl John O. Buenconsejo, RFT aquaculturist II of the Albay Provincial Agriculture Office- Fisheries Division said that the trapped sea creature is a female green sea turtle weighing 50 kilograms, measuring 88.39 centimetres in length and 71.01 centimetres in width.

Photo by Daryl John O. Buenconsejo, RFT aquaculturist II of the Albay Provincial Agriculture Office- Fisheries Division.

Buenconsejo said the turtle has a lump on its neck of which the usual or common cause is deficiency in vitamins and nutrients. “It is possible also that it is suffering from a respiratory disease or infections, and parasites.

“Kadakul po possible causes kaan. As of this moment dai ta pa po aram unless maoperahan na siya,” he said.

Buenonsejo’s team transported the entangled female green sea turtle to the BFAR regional rehabilitation facility in the municipality of Tiwi.

“The sea turtle has a big lump on its neck and was transported to BFAR to undergo operation this week,” he said.

The operation, according to Buenconsejo, will be conducted by a veterinarian from LGU Tabaco or from the Albay Veterinary Office of the provincial government.

The aquaculturist said that already three or four sea turtles before that had been operated on in that government facility.

Buenconsejo lauded the fisherfolk of San Miguel Island, the LGU Tabaco City through its CAO Office and CENRO Office, BFAR-5, Maritime Police, FARMC’s and PGA-APAO for their expeditious response that led to the rescue of the marine reptile.