ILOILO CITY — Seventy-three olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) hatchlings made their frenzied dash to the sea following their release by the local government of Numancia on 6 February.

The hatchlings emerged from 103 eggs laid by a mother olive ridley at the temporary conservation area in Brgy. Camanci Norte, closely monitored by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Provincial ENR Office (DENR-PENRO) Aklan in coordination with the local government. The release marked a 67% hatching success rate, well within the typical 50% to 70% range for ridleys. Experts noted that the remaining eggs failed to hatch due to temperature fluctuations from cold to warm.

Local residents gathered along the coast to witness the energetic crawl of the newly-hatched ridleys as they made their first critical journey to the sea. Their initial 24 to 36 hours of swimming, known as the “frenzy period,” is crucial for survival and adaptation to marine life.

“Since 2019, the temporary conservation area in Camanci Norte has been sustained through technical assistance from DENR-PENRO Aklan and the committed protection efforts of LGU Numancia,” said Engr. Jurlie Zubiaga, PENR Officer of Aklan. “By safeguarding these nesting grounds, we ensure that our wildlife continue to thrive for present and future generations.”

Highlighting the ecological significance, DENR 6 Regional Executive Director Raul L. Lorilla said, “Every single sea turtle hatchling that reaches the water is a victory for our marine and coastal ecosystem. The fact that Olive ridleys have chosen Numancia as a nesting ground reflects the improving health of our shores and the vigilance of our coastal communities.”

The 73 hatchlings are part of a growing trend of sea turtle activity in Aklan, with several successful releases recorded in both Numancia and the nearby island of Boracay over the past year, signaling the province’s rising prominence as a sanctuary for these endangered marine species.