A photo of a green sea turtle is circulating in the internet after herpetologist Emerson Y. Sy, executive director of the Philippine Center for Terrestrial and Aquatic Research shared the photo on Facebook on Wednesday, March 20.
The photo shows the exposed internal organs of the turtle, which was assumed to be slaughtered in Zambales.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group seized the turtle from a vendor in Bangantalinga, Iba Zambales last March 17. Charges will be filed against the vendor, whose name is yet to be revealed, according to Sy.
Green sea turtles are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Many countries prohibit the killing of the turtles, but other areas kill them for their meat and collection of its eggs.