LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 19 (PIA) -- All the 90 eggs of the giant leatherback turtle failed to hatch on the expected period of 45 t0 70 days after they were laid last July 14 at the beach of Barangay Rawis in this city.
Wildlife specialist Nilo Ramoso of the Pawikan Conservation Project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said Wednesday that all turtle eggs failed to develop into hatchlings because of the salt water intrusion during high tide at the original nesting site near the mouth of the Yawa River also in the same village.
Ramoso said that despite measures taken to protect the eggs from predators and further intrusion of salt water in the original nesting site , such as carefully transferring the eggs a few meters inland, It was unfortunate all the eggs failed to develop into hatchlings.
The eggs were transferred then to a new site under a half-a-meter-deep hole in the sand and with sand taken from the original nesting site buried the eggs. The site was protected with a perimeter fence with plastic screen.on the beach near the Philippine Navy regional headquarters.
Ramoso said laboratory findings revealed that the embryos or egg yolks and their albumin were contaminated with salt water, preventing them from maturing.
Ramoso added that the 70 eggs that were examined Wednesday were buried back Thursday at the nesting site while the remaining 20 eggs would be preserved and used in exhibits during lectures on sea turtle conservation campaigns.
It can be recalled that a two-meter-long leatherback turtle weighing between 250 and 300 kilos laid the eggs on the bank of Yawa River on July this year.
Leatherback turtle (Deomchelys coriacea) is the largest marine turtle in the world and considered endangered species.
DENR records showed that the arrival of the leatherback turtle last July off the waters of this city was the third sighting in Bicol. The first was in 1980 when a dead giant turtle was found by fishermen. The second sighting happened in 2012 at the coast of Ragay in Camarines Sur, with the leatherback turtle immediately released back to the sea.
Ramoso said the leatherback turtle’s laying of eggs in this city was the first recorded turtle nesting event not just in Bicol but in the country. (MAL-PIA5/Albay)
- See more at: http://r05.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=771379637281#sthash.QpOkjRwu.dpuf
Wildlife specialist Nilo Ramoso of the Pawikan Conservation Project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said Wednesday that all turtle eggs failed to develop into hatchlings because of the salt water intrusion during high tide at the original nesting site near the mouth of the Yawa River also in the same village.
Ramoso said that despite measures taken to protect the eggs from predators and further intrusion of salt water in the original nesting site , such as carefully transferring the eggs a few meters inland, It was unfortunate all the eggs failed to develop into hatchlings.
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| DENR personnel shows sample of the Leatherback turtle eggs which failed to develop into hatchlings due to salt water contamination. (Photo by Alex Cal) |
Ramoso said laboratory findings revealed that the embryos or egg yolks and their albumin were contaminated with salt water, preventing them from maturing.
Ramoso added that the 70 eggs that were examined Wednesday were buried back Thursday at the nesting site while the remaining 20 eggs would be preserved and used in exhibits during lectures on sea turtle conservation campaigns.
 |
| The remaining eggs were preserved to be used during lectures on sea turtle conservation campaigns |
Leatherback turtle (Deomchelys coriacea) is the largest marine turtle in the world and considered endangered species.
DENR records showed that the arrival of the leatherback turtle last July off the waters of this city was the third sighting in Bicol. The first was in 1980 when a dead giant turtle was found by fishermen. The second sighting happened in 2012 at the coast of Ragay in Camarines Sur, with the leatherback turtle immediately released back to the sea.
Ramoso said the leatherback turtle’s laying of eggs in this city was the first recorded turtle nesting event not just in Bicol but in the country. (MAL-PIA5/Albay)
- See more at: http://r05.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=771379637281#sthash.QpOkjRwu.dpuf
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