An Olive Ridley sea turtle was discovered nesting at Sitio Parola in San Jose, Roxas, Oriental Mindoro, on Friday, prompting a swift response from LGU personnel.

A concerned citizen reported the nesting turtle to the Municipal Agriculture Office, which dispatched its Coastal Resource Management Division to document and assess the animal.

Officials measured the female turtle’s carapace at 96 centimeters in length and 85 centimeters in width, indicating the animal was in good physical condition.

The Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) is the second-smallest and most abundant of all sea turtle species, typically weighing between 75 and 100 pounds at maturity.

Despite their relative abundance compared to other sea turtles, they are classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to threats from fishing operations, coastal development and egg poaching.

These turtles play a crucial role in marine ecosystems by controlling jellyfish populations and maintaining healthy seagrass beds through their grazing activities. Their nesting also deposits nutrients from ocean environments onto beaches, supporting coastal vegetation.

Sea turtles, including Olive Ridleys, feed on marine invertebrates and help maintain balance in ocean food webs.

When they nest, females typically lay between 50 and 200 eggs per clutch, with hatchlings emerging after approximately 45 to 60 days.

The Philippine government strictly protects all sea turtle species under Republic Act 9147, the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.

The law prohibits the collection, possession, transport and sale of sea turtles and their eggs, with violations punishable by up to four years imprisonment and fines up to P300,000.

The Fisheries Administrative Order 208, issued by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, provides additional protection by establishing conservation measures for marine turtles in Philippine waters.

Municipal officials thanked the barangay for its vigilance in protecting marine wildlife and said they would continue monitoring the nesting site until the eggs hatch.

The Philippines serves as an important nesting and foraging habitat for five of the world’s seven sea turtle species, making community-based conservation efforts critical to the animals’ survival.

photos: courtesy of Roxas LGU