A GREEN sea turtle suspected to have been hit by a non-propeller sea vessel was found floating near the seaport in Lower Base at around 10 a.m. yesterday.
Conservation officers of the Division of Fish and Wildlife retrieved the dead turtle from the sea immediately after notifications from the Quarantine Division and an unidentified individual.
Marianne C. Teregeyo, spokeswoman of the Department of Lands and Natural Resources, said the turtle was estimated to be 25 to 30 years old and weighed 65 lbs.
“It’s a big and mature turtle found floating in the channel. It is suspected to have died due to impact from a non-propeller vessel,” Teregeyo told Variety. The turtle’s shell was cracked, she said.
At 3 p.m. yesterday, Teregeyo and DFW conservation officers burned the turtle at the airport incinerator.
“We want to call on all boaters out there to take precautionary measures to avoid running over turtles. If you hit something or saw something, please report immediately to DFW or DLNR,” Teregeyo said.
This is the first dead turtle retrieved by DFW in recent years.
Under U.S. law, all turtles are classified as endangered species, Teregeyo said.
