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Turtle goes ‘shopping’ at Dolphin’s
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Posted on Oct 26 2006
For Dolphin Wholesale employee Bong Apolonio, an ordinary day would be waking up early and heading for work at the usual time.
But not yesterday morning, when he discovered that a turtle was “parking illegally” at the Korean department store’s employee parking space.
He immediately informed management and took the turtle from the parking lot to a shelter.
Dolphin management immediately informed the Coastal Resource Management Office of their find but was referred to the Division of Fish and Wildlife instead.
At 2pm, enforcement officers from DFW came to the store and picked up the “lost” turtle.
As of yesterday afternoon, the animal, which measured 8 by 6 inches, had yet to be identified whether it is a land or a sea turtle.
Four sea turtles are considered Commonwealth Listed Endangered species—the Hawksbill sea turtle, leatherback sea turtle, green sea turtle, and loggerhead sea turtle.
According to CNMI regulations it is illegal to fish, harvest, hunt, harm or destroy habitat, fish, game, wildlife or natural resources in a “No Take Zone.” Polluting, disturbing, or degrading the environment or the natural resources within the protected areas is also strictly prohibited.
It is illegal to fish, harvest, hunt, harm or destroy habitat, fish, game, wildlife or natural resources in a No Take Zone. Polluting, disturbing, or degrading the environment and/or the natural resources within these areas is also strictly prohibited.
It is also illegal to take, hunt, harvest, fish, or injure any endangered and/or threatened species including Marianas Fruit Bat and all Sea Turtles, according to the DFW website.
“Anyone who violates DFW’s rules, regulations or laws is subject to penalties that may include fines, imprisonment or both. Violators may also have their gear and equipment confiscated and not returned,” an officer of the division said. If similar incidents happen within their areas the public should contact the DFW at 898-3570.
