MANILA, Philippines – An endangered hawksbill turtle was found and rescued in a Manila port on Friday.

The turtle was discovered at Pier 15 of the Manila Bay by Seaman 2nd Cesar Ryan Alvarez.

Alvarez initially thought the turtle to be just trash on a basket until it moved.

He brought the turtle to the Philippine Coast Guard headquarters to be turned over to a member of the Pawikan Conservation Project.

Biologist Nilo Romoso said the rescued turtle, believed to be in its juvenile stage, was 45.5 centimeters long and 41.6 centimeters wide. It is among the 5 classes of turtles found in the Philippines. The said turtle has a lifespan of 80 years.

The turtle possibly strayed from its usual migration pattern in Batangas, Bataan and Zambales.

Authorities are also looking into the possibility that the turtle got loose from its owner as its shell bore a hole and it still has tie marks. They say fishermen sometimes keep turtles that they find.

Hawksbill turtles are reportedly on the brink of extinction. Their number has decreased since the 1950s. Report from Maan Macapagal, ABS-CBN News