Add this one to the growing list of endangered species meeting death because of human encroachment.

A dead leatherback turtle was discovered at the coastal waters of Barangay Buenavista, Escalante City recently, prompting an environment official in the province to reiterate an appeal to preserve endangered species in the seas.

"Please leave our endangered species alone and allow them to return to their natural habitat," provincial environment officer Livino Duran said in his appeal yesterday.

The leatherback is the largest living turtle, according to the website http://www.turtles.org/leatherd.htm.

Investigations made by Escalante City agriculturist Ferdinand Alico showed that strangulation through net caused the death of the leatherback turtle, which weighed 400 kilos and was measured at 151 cm. (4.95 feet) long and 124 cm. (4.05 feet).

A press release from the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office of Cadiz City said lesions were found on the flippers as well as on the head and tail of the marine turtle, which was discovered by fishermen at 3 a.m. on Feb. 28.

The marine turtle was endorsed to the Barangay Bantay Dagat, before it was turned over to the Escalante City Agriculture Office at 11 a.m. on the same day, the press release said. It will be exhumed next year.

Leatherbacks have historically been taken only rarely for their meat and are the most pelagic of turtles, feeding in the open ocean rather than near shore as other marine turtles do. At sea, they become entangled fairly often in long-lines, buoy anchor lines and other ropes and cables, the website http://www.turtles.org/leatherd.htm. said. *CPT

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