TURTLE ISLANDS WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
By Jaye Suzette Dy Saavedra
The Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary was formally designated as a protected area through Proclamation No. 171 on August 26, 1999. This sanctuary plays a pivotal role in conserving and preserving various species, most notably the Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas), which exclusively choose the Philippines as their nesting grounds. It holds significant nesting importance within the ASEAN Region and ranks as the 11th most vital globally. This sanctuary stands as a testament to the remarkable biodiversity and awe-inspiring natural environment it encompasses.
Marine turtles play a significant and crucial role in the marine ecosystem as they serve as carriers or hosts. They inhabit coral reefs and vital saltwater bodies, which cover a substantial portion of the earth’s surface. These green plants act as fertile grounds for fish and small crustaceans, supporting their growth, reproduction, and nourishment.
On 31st May 1996, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed between the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of Malaysia, officially declaring the Turtle Islands as the Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Area (TIHPA). This momentous event marked the establishment of the first-ever protected area solely dedicated to conserving sea turtles worldwide, highlighting the critical importance of environmental preservation and the safeguarding of natural resources in the region.
During the termination phase, 80-150 eggs are deposited nightly from May to July. The Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) also exhibits breeding behavior, albeit with a significantly lower spatial distribution of nesting, contrasting the Green Turtle.
On flora diversity, 200 species have been known and named; ten mangrove species have come around unexpectedly in all six islands. Thirty-four categories of animals and plants subordinate to a genus but above a breed, race, strain, or variety have been noticed by the sense of sight to come about in the undivided Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary.
The Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary was planned to launch a Marine Protected Area Network (MPA Network) component on May 14-15, 2014, in Manado, Indonesia. The primary objective of the Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary is to safeguard the natural environment and protect marine turtles. Collaborating with stakeholders and engaging in coordinated efforts within the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) in the Sulu Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion (SSME) has been successfully implemented.
Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary is suitable for boating experiences. It captures a comprehensive view of sea turtles everywhere, and it is a great joy to witness such marvelous turtles. Turtles cannot be seen anywhere but only in the Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary—these sea creatures like to thrive in this sanctuary and breed many there. The Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary coral reefs can boast delicious foods for the sea animals. It attracts sea turtles to live continually in this Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary. So, to ride on a boat and see surprises, visit the Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary. Indeed, one can use or transport any small, open watercraft propelled by oars, sails, or engine. One can pass through caves, small islands, and wildlife sceneries. One does not need to be in a submarine to search for sea turtles because some are grazing sweetly on land in the islands surrounding their habitats. Any of the numerous reptiles (order Chelonia) having a horny, toothless beak and characterized by a short fat body covered above and below with a horny carapace and plastron, respectively, into which all the members may be drawn to protection precisely a marine type as found from a terrestrial kind is located in the Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary. These turtles have an arched covering that looks like the shell made over a back shielding against torrent seas.
The Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary is a particular portion of a fraction of the Sulu Archipelago, which is constructed of elements or parts of approximately 400 islands of varying shapes and sizes. A bit discovers it and source at the southwestern slanting or inclined position of the Philippines, about 1,000 km southwest of Manila. The area that is protected has a fixed place or situation in or at some point within the space supporting two businesses or objects coordinates 4 degrees 30’ and 5 degrees 20’ North Latitude and 199 degrees 25’ and 121 degrees 52’ East on the east and south by the Celebes Sea.
The islands are Baguan, Boan, Taganak, Great Bakkungan Lihiman, and Langgaan. It has a total aggregate area of 241,495.92 hectares, wherein 298.27 hectares have similar and analogous functions of belongings as by right to the tract or ground part of a whole or allotment of the wildlife sanctuary. Comparatively less than another or a standard tract of land, usually of a modern extent surrounded by water, the Langgaan measures 7 hectares. In contrast, the absolutely or relatively tremendous or ample size, dimension, quantity, number, degree, and range of Taganak Island is 124 hectares. Almost generally, the Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary has physical features collectively of a region the extent of possible variation from a surface that is a horizontal plane, or nearly so and leveled without unevenness, low plateau, and hills, too lofty topographic parts of a map which showcases the configuration represented for contour lines extending as far as high as 150 meters vertically up or in a higher place than sea having a flat or even ground without inequalities. The Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Tawi-tawi, Philippines, and the area is 242,967 hectares or 938.10 sq mi.