Dead sea turtle found along Calapan shoreline; authorities alerted

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — A dead marine turtle was found stranded along the shoreline of Barangay San Antonio near the Calapan Port’s Gate 4 on Thursday morning, prompting environmental regulators here to conduct a proper assessment.

The sighting was reported by the Freediving Coaches of Asia (FCOA) Calapan, whose coach discovered the carcass at around 7 a.m.

The organization said the turtle appeared to have been washed ashore and had been trapped between a concrete coastal structure and a boat.

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READ: Dead leatherback sea turtle found along Iloilo coast

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Based on initial field observations, the turtle had likely been dead for some time before reaching the shore.

However, FCOA stressed that the exact cause and time of death cannot be determined without examination by qualified marine wildlife experts.

The group said the animal appeared to be a Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas), based on the visible head pattern and shell features. But species identification still requires confirmation by personnel from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

FCOA noted that the turtle’s shell sustained significant damage, including large cracks and exposed inner layers.

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The incident has already been reported to the DENR and the Calapan City local government for proper handling and possible investigation.

Sea turtles face numerous threats, including boat strikes, plastic pollution, habitat degradation, and illegal wildlife trade. Green sea turtles are among the marine turtle species protected under Philippine wildlife conservation laws.

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Authorities have yet to release the results of an official assessment of the incident./coa

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