Amdist the Fortress of the Philippine Saltwater

Victoria - Ferdinand Magellan's Ship 

When we studied history in our lower years, our teachers told us about the discovery of Ferdinand Magellan of the Philippines in the year 1521. Magellan and his men are in an expedition to fins spices that are very valuable during that period. Even though the spices were not in sight, Magellan and his men stayed - we were in captivity of the Spaniards for over 300 years. Historians figured that one of the prime reasons that the Spaniards never left was the richness of the country in natural resources. But these was not discovered until the scientists explored deeper into the islands. 

The Philippines only covers 297,179km2 in the westernmost Pacific Ocean, composed of 7,107 islands. With only a small land portion and vast ocean covering, still, the Philippines is considered the hottest hotspot in the world in terms of biodiversity. This diversity cuts across species, genera, families, orders, classes, phyla and kingdoms. Various species of both flora and fauna only resides and in the islands of the Philippines and no place else. 

Belonging to the organisms claiming a home in the Philippines are Sea Turtles, which is colloquially known as Pawikans. These are reptiles that belong to the super-family of Chelonioidea. The five sea turtles that reside in the Phlippines are Green (Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) and Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea). These turtles are morphologically different from other turtles since they are not able to retract their legs and head and they have long paddle-like legs. They swim gracefully in the water, travelling as fast as 32 kilometers per hour. Of these five species, the Olive Ridley is the only carnivorous species. 

Green Turtle

Hawksbill

Leatherback

Loggerhead

Olive Ridley

Three decades ago, it was common to see turtle tracks in the morning but since they are slow-moving in land, very graceful in the water, and predators for the plants, they are not considered to be destructive to the environment and the ecosystem. Nonetheless, they are considered to be critically endangered because of human 
destructive forces. 

Marine turtles need decades of maturity to reach the reproductive stage. Neverthless, before the females and the males reach it, they are faced with different endeavors, both in land and in water.


In the wild, it is inevitable that organisms have predators chasing after them. In the case of turtles, sharks and killer whales are among the predators. Clutches of eggs also serve as food for crustaceans. However, much of the decline of their population is brought about by environmental and human factors. 

Turtle Eggs

Among the major contributor of their endangerment is the destruction of their natural habitat. This is especially disturbing for male pawikans, since they spend their entire lives in the water while the females only exit the water to lay eggs in the shore. (Here is a link: http://news.discovery.com/animals/sea-turtle-eggs-meat-delicacy-extinction.html) In addition, the phenomenon of global warming increases their susceptibility to survive: because these organisms are cold-blooded , their body temperatures fluctuate with the environment. 

Turtle caught by a fish net

Human intervention is seen by scientists as the primary culprit in their decline. Adult pawikans are caught in fish nets that may cause immobility and suffocation. Furthermore, dynamite fishing sometimes destroy them. Adult turtles are also susceptible from the slaughtering of man for their meat because turtle meat is served in many countries, such as Japan, China and the Philippines. 


Tourism also has adverse effect on the reproduction of pawikans. Because of the light in the shore, the female pawikans are scared to go up in the land and lay their egg in the sand. And, even if the pawikans have laid their eggs, people harvest it and serves it as a delicacy in some restaurants along the shore. Even if the eggs survive from being eaten by humans, certain predators threaten their survival. 

Fortunately, the Locals and the Government took steps to help preserve these animals. A Pawikan Conservation Center has been established in Morong, Bataan to take care of lost pawikans and assist in their egg-laying. The eggs are gathered and placed in a protected area to prevent predators from eating them, including humans. When the eggs are hatched, hatchlings are released in the shore facilitated by the volunteers. In commemoration of the pawikans, Pawikan Festival is celebrated every year in the month of November at Morong, Bataan to increase awareness of the endangerment of the pawikans.


Regional efforts are also seen by conducting workshop and lectures on the importance and preservation of the marine turtles. Local Government Units also established sanctuaries for the pawikans. 

The Turtle Islands 

National and International collaborations has also been established to promote the preservation of these organisms. In June 1979, an Executive Order has been released creating a task force for pawikan conservation, called E.O. 542: CREATING THE TASK FORCE PAWIKAN AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR. The Philippines also established the Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Areas in cooperation with the Malaysian Minister. Moreover, the Phillipines is a member of the ASEAN Sea Turtle Conservation and Protection. 


Because of these efforts, many civilians invest their time in the conservation and protection of the pawikan. even the villagers from the beach areas help in the protection.


Here are some links on anectodals and accounts about pawikans in the Philippines
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/145396/84-newly-hatched-pawikan-released-in-Tayabas-Bay
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20100310-257918/Marinduque-seeks-pawikan-habitat
http://www.youscoop.tv/scoop/17452/pawikan
http://news.discovery.com/tech/saving-turtles-with-better-gear.html
http://news.discovery.com/tech/traffic-control-for-turtles.html


References:
Buaron, D. R. A. (2009). Pawikan conservation. Tourism Philippines. retrieved September 16, 2010 from http://tourism-philippines.com/pawikan-conservation/




Conservation International. (2007). Philippines. Biodiversity Hotspots. Retrieved September 16, 2010 from http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/hotspots/philippines/Pages/biodiversity.aspx


Department of Environment and Natural Resources. (n.d.). Pawikan conservation project. Retrieved September 23, 2010 from http://www.pawb.gov.ph/pawikan.html


Ocean Ambassadors. (n.d.). Turtle islands heritage protected areas. Retrieved September 16, 2010 from http://www.oneocean.org/ambassadors/track_a_turtle/tihpa/index.html


Ocean Ambassadors. (n.d.). Turtle threats. Retrieved Spetember 23, 2010 from http://www.oneocean.org/ambassadors/track_a_turtle/hazards/


Sea World Inc. (1994). Sea turtles. Retrieved September 16, 2010 from http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/SeaTurtle/stclass.html


The ChanRobles Group. (1998). Task force pawikan. Chan Robles Virtual Library. Retrieved September 23, 2010 from http://www.chanrobles.com/marcosexecutiveorderno542.htm