ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Mayor Celso Lobregat has released to the sea about 73 hatchlings of Hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) at La Vista del Mar Beach Resort in line with his commitment to protect endangered mammals from extinction.

Lobregat said resort workers were surprised to see Thursday night the hawksbill hatchlings crawling their way into the sea, some even lost their way and crept into the kitchen of La Vista del Mar.

This prompted the workers to gather the hatchlings and placed them inside a container prior to their release, Lobregat said.

“The La Vista del Mar workers contacted me about these hatchlings and I immediately called up the authorities concerned to have these critically endangered hawksbill hatchlings released into the sea,” the mayor said, adding that it was the third time a hawksbill sea turtle laid eggs on the beach of La Vista del Mar Beach Resort in this city.

“This is a new beginning and a good start for the year. This release only shows that we in Zamboanga City are concerned with preserving endangered species as a result of our awareness campaign through information dissemination,” Lobregat explained.

The mayor believed that there could be more sea turtle eggs unhatched and buried on the beach of La Vista del Mar.

The mayor here theorized that the mother hawksbill sea turtle laid Centerthe eggs about three weeks ago with a 15 to 30 day incubation period.

The hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata) is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae.

The baby turtles, usually weighing less than 24 grams (0.85 oz) hatch at night after around two months. These newly emergent hatchlings are dark-colored, with heart-shaped carapaces measuring around 2.5 centimeters (0.98 in) long.

They instinctively walk into the sea, attracted by the reflection of the moon on the water. Baby turtles that do not reach the water by daybreak are preyed upon by shorebirds, shore crabs, and other predators.

Present during the release of the hawksbill hatchlings were Councilor Nonong Guingona, City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Rey Gonzales, City Veterinarian Mario Ariola together with the representatives from the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB).