The Zamboanguita town government in Negros Oriental has allocated funds to expand the concrete swimming tank that houses the four sea turtles raised in captivity, the local Environment and Natural Resources Office said.
Oscar Mongcopa, Protected Areas and Wildlife Section chief of CENRO II, said the town has started building an extension of the tank at the oceanarium established by the late Fr. Eleuterio Tropa.
The critically-endangered sea turtles, registered with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, drew attention recently when environmental advocates expressed concern over their current state, through the news media and social websites.
Photographer and environmentalist Steve de Neef said the turtles, one a green sea and three hawksbills, were in an apparent state of “abuse” and “disregard”.
De Neef posted photographs of the turtles cramped in a small concrete tank filled with murky water, and of a person picking up one of them by its flippers.
Mongcopa said at least five sea turtles were registered to Tropa, but officials can no longer determine what had happened to the fifth. The reptiles have been in captivity for 20 years, he added.
He assured that measures are being undertaken so the turtles will no longer be exposed to human contact, or disturbed by those who visit the oceanarium on educational tours.*JFP
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