New life returns to the seas around Bicol – with a little helping hand from some friends.

On the 13^th of January, at five in the afternoon, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines, together with the Department of Environment and National Resources Provincial Environmental Office (DENR-PENRO) of Sorsogon, and the Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE) released 18 baby olive ridley sea turtles into the waters of Burias Pass, Bicol, from the shores of Donsol, Sorsogon.

Historically, the shores of Donsol have been visited by olive ridley sea turtles, who lay their eggs in the Bicol sands. Encroaching development and the illegal turtle trade have thinned out their populations across the globe, however. Beach sightings have since become rare.

The olive ridley sea turtle is now listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The turtles that were released were the first in a batch of 133 eggs to hatch. The mother olive ridley turtle had originally laid them in a shallow nest in the sand on the 17^th of November, 2019. The other eggs are expected to hatch within the coming week.

“The people of Sibago had to move the eggs the day before Typhoon Tisoy struck Donsol last year. They moved them from their nesting grounds to a safe place for the duration of the storm, before bringing them back a couple of days afterwards,” explained WWF-Philippines Project Manager Jun Narvadez. Predators, such as dogs and birds, pose a constant threat to exposed eggs. Because of the olive ridley turtle’s small population and vulnerable status, extra care and human intervention have to be exercised to ensure that hatchlings make it to the wild.

“Here in Donsol, we mostly only see green turtles. With our efforts, though, we’re hoping that the olive ridley will return. These hatching events prove that the coastal areas of Donsol are nesting grounds of sea turtles,” added Narvadez.

WWF-Philippines plans on conducting more assisted sea turtle hatching and release efforts over the coming years. The organization will also be partnering with the LGU of Donsol to educate locals on the proper handling of wildlife, to prepare them for future encounters. Tourists may be invited to help provide extra hands in hatching efforts.

Biodiversity and richness of life continues to return slowly to the waters of Bicol, with the help of those who wish to protect it. Support WWF-Philippines and help us work towards a future where man lives in harmony with nature.