Young Samuel saves turtle from slaughter

By Francis Pituvaka Communications Officer – MFMR

Eleven years old Samuel Jason Voda Marsh, a fifth grader at Honiara International School (Woodford) yesterday joined officer from the Ministries of Environment and Fisheries to tag and release back into the wild, a juvenile Green Marine Turtle (Species name – Chelonia mydas).

Young Samuel through his family contacted our team on Monday to find out if we could assist him to release a turtle which was captured and sold by a local fisher and bought back home.

He did not want the turtle to be eaten nor harmed and insisted that his family release the endangered animal back to the sea.

“Thanks to Samuel, our team in partnership with MFMR conducted the mission to ‘tag and release Samuel’s turtle’ at Eden’s Bay, west of Honiara. We know young Samuel’s action will inspire all of us to do positive actions every day. This young man is truly one conservation champion”

The juvenile turtle has been named “Samuel” that carries the two flipper tags – L=19027 and R=19028. Turtle tagging also recognizes the national, regional and global efforts to protect and monitor population, movements and range of their habitats, especially where they nest or feed. Tags also tracks geographic location of turtles where they originated and who tagged the turtle.

Meanwhile, communities and organisations have been encouraged to continue to protect these endangered marine species. #ProtectMarineTurtles #ForNature.  

IMPORTANT:

• It is illegal to buy, sell or export any species of marine turtles.
• It is illegal to harvest, buy, sell or export leatherback turtles.  
• It is illegal to destroy turtle with a tag attached or tag attached to a turtle. If you find tagged turtles, please report tag numbers to fisheries or environment authorities.