At least 132 Hawksbill sea turtle hatchlings were released to the sea in Gen. Luna town of Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, an environment official said Thursday.

Bonifacio Modanza, the municipal environment, and natural resources officer said the hatchlings were set free Wednesday at Barangay Sta. Fe’s islet of Paasaw that has a total area of 3,558 square meters.

“This particular islet is the natural habitat of Hawksbill sea turtles where they lay their eggs,” Modanza said in a statement.

He noted that a resident discovered a mother Hawksbill turtle laying eggs in mid-January this year. The resident, he said, secured the area to ensure that the eggs would not be harmed after the mother turtle left.

“Eventually, after 72 days, the eggs hatched, and we facilitated the release of the baby sea turtles back to the sea,” Modanza said.

In a separate statement on Thursday, Gen. Luna Mayor Sol Matugas said the local government is exerting efforts to preserve mother nature in the town that serves as the home of the island’s flora and fauna.

“Preserving the nature and environment will benefit our future generation,” Matugas said.

Modanza said the local government is now working on the declaration of Sitio Paasaw as a protected area. (PNA)