130 turtles seized in police raid<\/p>\n
JP\/I Wayan Juniartha<\/p>\n
SANUR, Bali (JP): Police on Tuesday afternoon seized some 130
\nlive turtles in a raid on a slaughter house, believed to be one
\nof the biggest in the area.<\/p>\n
Located some 50 meters from the Ngurah Rai Highway on the
\neastern outskirts of Denpasar, the slaughter house has reportedly
\nbeen in operation for some three decades.<\/p>\n
The owner, 67-year-old I Made Kodi, said an average of two
\nturtles were butchered each day to meet the demand for turtle
\ndelicacies from various parts of Denpasar and Badung regencies.<\/p>\n
The slaughter house is now managed by Kodi's nephew, I Wayan
\nWidnyana.<\/p>\n
Kodi disclosed that he usually bought the live turtles from
\npoachers in Tanjung Benoa village at prices ranging from Rp
\n200,000 to Rp 350,000.<\/p>\n
\"We can make around 20 karang (a traditional Balinese dish)
\nout of one turtle and sell it for about Rp 30,000 per serving,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
The turtles, most of them green turtles (Chelonia mydas) which
\nare protected by law, were kept at two buildings separated from
\nthe main house. They were tied with plastic ropes and were not
\nbeing fed.<\/p>\n
The seized turtles were brought to police headquarters in
\ntrucks.<\/p>\n
The police's Special Crimes Unit chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Gede
\nArtawan said the turtles would be released into the ocean on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
Kodi and Widnyana will be charged with violating Article 55 of
\nLaw No.5\/1990 on Natural Resources Protection and Conservation.<\/p>\n
Environmentalists claim that some 27,000 turtles are killed
\nfor local consumption every year on the holiday island. (zen)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/130-turtles-seized-in-police-raid-1447893297",
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