Or Getting the facts straight
An interesting story today was the raid conducted in Pasay. A restaurant in Pasay was raided because it was cooking and serving “pawikan”, pawikan or sea turtles. Only two were saved and the rest more than twenty (?) were chopped and about to be cooked. Again an interesting story. But based on the photo provided and the video. These were not Sea Turtles nor are they Pawikan. They seemed to be freshwater turtle. It could be the Leyte Pond Turtle (Heosemys leytensis) which is likewise endangered or it could be another species of Freshwater Turtle – that might be bred in a farm. One is not sure. And that is why it is important to get the name and identity correct. But definitely it is not a Sea Turtle or Pawikan.
Two points needs to be answered here:
First, What species of freshwater turtle was being cooked.
Second, Get its Scientific Name
Third, Check the name on IUCN RedList to find its Status.
Fourth, Correctly report what was being chopped and cooked.
There is a need to do some research and fact checking on the part of media.
No more pawikan dishes at Pasay resto
Restaurant manager, cook arrested for killing endangered sea turtle
No matter what kind of turtle it is, I will never eat it. 🙂