𝐏𝐂𝐒𝐃𝐒 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧-𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫: 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐱 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐞

A Southeast Asian Box Turtle was turned over to the custody of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) by a concerned citizen today, the 10th of July.

The individual responsible for the turnover is identified as Mark Darwin C. Villarta (Villarta), a resident of Barangay San Manuel, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. According to Villarta’s statement, he found the turtle last Saturday, 8th of July within the premises of their residence. As a former staff of PCSDS, he is aware that the wild does not belong to the residential areas. Hence, he obliged himself and immediately turned over the turtle to the PCSDS the next working day.

The identified turtle is an adult female and measures 22 cm (carapace length), 22 cm (carapace width), and weighs 1.020 kilograms. It is scheduled to be released back into its natural habitat.

The Southeast Asian Box Turtle is listed as an “Endangered” species under PCSD Resolution No. 15-521.

The PCSDS urges fellow citizens who happen to encounter or capture any live wildlife to kindly turn them over to our office or call our hotlines: PCSDS Wildlife Enforcement Unit (WEU) at 09319642128 (TNT) and 09656620248 (TM), or the PCSDS Front Desk hotline at 0935-116-2336 (Globe/TM) and 0948-937-2200 (Smart/TNT). You can also send a message to our Facebook page for any concerns you may have.