A Hawksbill turtle, marked as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, has been saved after a rescue operation following its entanglement in a fishing net off Singapore’s East Coast Park.
A rare encounter along the East Coast led to a rescue operation, as stand-up paddleboarder Josephine Donaldson discovered a Hawksbill Turtle entangled in a fishing net. This turtle, a species found in shallow Singapore Straits and southern coastlines, is recognized as Critically Endangered.
Casting light on the harsh reality of ocean pollution, the helpless creature’s plight underscores the threat that discarded fishing nets pose to marine life. These fishing nets, often left behind by fishermen or carried in by ocean currents, can ensnare marine species leading to painful injuries or in the worst case death. Hawksbill Turtles are no exception.
Unprepared yet determined to save the trapped turtle, Donaldson teamed up with the National Parks Board (NParks) and staff from a nearby sea sports center. The group managed to carry the turtle onto Donaldson’s paddle board and then onto shore, where they cut off the nets surrounding the turtle’s neck and body with a cutter. The rescue took more than two hours for the turtle to be freed.
Upon examination, NParks team found the turtle physically unharmed, which was a fortunate outcome. To monitor its movements and understand its habitat better, an identification tag was attached before releasing the freed turtle back into the ocean.
Protection efforts in Singapore do not end with just rescue missions. The NParks has actively taken part in the conservation of Hawksbill Turtles, with their latest project resulting in the successful hatching and release of 120 turtle hatchlings. Their work manifests their commitment to conserve the fragile marine ecosystem.
Donaldson, sharing her firsthand encounter with the devastating impact of ocean pollution, emphasized the importance of responsible disposal of waste to safeguard our precious marine life.
To quote Donaldson, “when you see it in person, you feel for… the poor living thing.” A simple reflection that harbors a powerful call to action – it’s high time we acknowledged the vulnerability of our marine life and took action to protect it.
