A viusibly ailing sea turtle (pawikan) was recently rescued by personnel of the Bluejaz Beach Resort and Waterpark on Samal Island. Department of Energy and Natural Resources officials said the 21×30 inch, 20 kg. female sea turtle is about 30 years old. When found it was in a weak condition.
The turtle is being attended to by resort management until full recovery and will most probably be released to its natural habitat in pursuance of government policy.
Scientists refer to sea turtles as the only living remnants of the dinosaur age, but maybe not for long. Unless sincere efforts are undertaken, sea turtles might follow dinosaurs into extinction, they say.
Sea turtles, popularly known in the Philippines as pawikan, belong to the sub-order Cryptodira, and to the families Dermochelyidae and Cheloniidae. There are more than 220 species of turtles in the world, but only seven are considered marine (saltwater). Five of these species are present in the Philippines. Turtles are the only reptiles with shells. Scientists claim that turtles have been here for more than 150 million years, surviving the age of dinosaurs. Using their shells as protectors, they have adapted well to all types of weather, surviving the most rigid climatic changes.(http://www.txtmania.com/articles/pawikan.php)
