DAVAO CITY - Fishermen and members of Bantay Dagat rescued an adult green sea turtle with an arrow stuck in its neck on the seashore of Barangay Centro, Agdao District here Friday morning.

The injured pawikan was brought to Cleanergy park in Punta Dumalag, Barangay Matina Aplaya, a biodiversity park that serves as a sanctuary and nesting site for turtles.

Demosthenes Amaga, officer-in-charge of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' (DENR) enforcement division, observed that the arrow caused an inflammation on the turtle's neck bigger than its head.

The weak pawikan, currently resting in a repository, is under the protection of the Cleanergy Park management of the Aboitiz Foundation.

Fermin Edillon, Community Relations Manager of Davao Light and Power Company, is dismayed with what happened to the turtle. He said only 1 out of 1,000 hatchlings survive in their natural habitat.

Currently, there are three turtles- two Olive Ridleys and one Hawksbill- under the care of Cleanergy Park.

Meanwhile, the DENR said it would be difficult to identify who injured the turtle. Still, it warned those who would attempt to harm animals that they would face punishment for violations of Republic Act No. 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.