The Aboitiz Cleanergy Park continues to prove itself as a sea turtle or “pawikan” haven with the discovery of two new nests last June 11.
One was laid by a previously rescued and rehabilitated pawikan, while the other by a new pawikan. There are now a total of nine nests found in the park in the first half of 2021 alone.
An eight-hectare ecological preserve and biodiversity conservation site, the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park is located along the coast of Punta Dumalag, Matina Aplaya, Davao City.
AboitizPower subsidiary Davao Light and Aboitiz Foundation Inc. manage the park.
Since its launch in 2014, the park has become home to almost 100 endemic migratory bird species, marine species, and at least three critically endangered pawikan species like the Hawksbill turtle, Green Sea turtle, and Olive Ridley turtle.
The returning pawikan identified as “Turtle Cleanergy” is a female pawikan previously rescued from the park’s mangroves last February 2017.
She was found exhausted and injured from forcing her way through the vegetation back to the sea after nesting. She was rescued, rehabilitated, and assessed for release by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region XI.
“Turtle Cleanergy” and a second female relative (a sister or a cousin) are believed to be the origins of several nests discovered in past years: one nest in 2014 and 11 nests in 2017.
These conclusions were based on tissue samples and DNA studies undertaken by students at the University of the Philippines Mindanao and Dr. Ruth Gamboa, a marine biologist from UP Mindanao.
A new pawikan was spotted laying eggs in the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park last June 9, 2021. She did not have an official tag but was named “Turtle Hope.” She may be the origin of another nest that was discovered two weeks earlier.
Hawksbill turtles, the species to which Turtle Cleanergy and Turtle Hope belong, typically lay eggs in two-week intervals. Each female generally lays three to five nests each season; “Turtle Cleanergy” has laid three nests so far, and “Turtle Hope” has laid two.
“The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region XI (DENR XI) is in strong partnership with AboitizPower subsidiary Davao Light and Aboitiz Foundation for the Cleanergy Park, which has long been a safe nesting place and recovery area for rescued sea turtles,” said Bagani F. Evasco, DENR Region XI Executive Director.
“We are grateful for the conservation efforts of Aboitiz through the park. It is truly a testament to their continued commitment to protecting and conserving the environment and the wildlife species around the area,” Evasco added.
“The return of “Turtle Cleanergy” to the Cleanergy park is very timely as we celebrate the Philippine Environment Month. We are reminded to continue caring for, protecting, and conserving our environment and flora and fauna species found in them,” the official added.
Pawikan are known to return faithfully to the same beach where they were born or previously nested.
“With the sea turtles coming back and laying eggs through the years, the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park has successfully lived up to its purpose of protecting and preserving the area and its flora and fauna, despite the daily environmental threats such as pollution and soil erosion,” said Rodger S. Velasco, Davao Light President and Chief Operating Officer.
“We commit to continue our conservation efforts, and we are grateful for the invaluable support and partnership of DENR XI, the local government of Davao City, and our various stakeholders,” he added.
Davao Light, the Aboitiz Foundation, DENR XI, and the Davao City LGU previously entered into an agreement for pawikan conservation efforts and identified the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park as Pawikan Rescue Center, in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water).
The regular returns of “Turtle Cleanergy” in the last seven years, along with the continual arrival of new pawikan such as “Turtle Hope,” show that the conservation efforts of the Aboitiz Group have been fruitful and continue to contribute to the nation’s rich biodiversity.