TUGUEGARAO CITY-Five Asian box turtles were released back to the river in Santa Margarita, Baggao, Cagayan on Sunday which coincided with the World Wetlands Day, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Cagayan Valley said in a belated report on Tuesday.
Earlier, the tortoises were surrendered to the Alcala and Solana community environment offices, whose heads later turned over these to the DENR-Region2-Rogelio Baggayan Nature Park and Wildlife Center in this city for proper care and treatment.
Environmentalists say Asian box turtles disperse seeds through the fruits and other forest plants they eat and the action to free them could maintain balance in the ecosystem and increase germination rate of seeds through their droppings.
The said turtles have been listed as “other threatened species” in the updated list of fauna in the country.#
Environment workers release five Asian box turtles along the river in Sta. Margarita, Baggao, Cagayan on Sunday. #
