215 'pawikan' hatchlings released in Subic

About 215 sea turtle hatchlings were released last week at the All Hands Beach Resort here in a bid to ensure the conservation of the marine turtle species inside this premier Freeport despite already being in the list of endangered species. According to Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Services Chief Emerita Sebial, eggs of the olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelysolivacea) were buried in the sand at the resort where they eventually hatched and set out to sea. She said that these hatchlings have imprint characteristics, pointing out that the mothers who laid these eggs were probably hatchlings that were born here. “They imprint on the unique magnetic field of their birthplace, and the female ones use this information to return to this beach to nest.”