Melia saveguards turtles' future<\/p>\n
I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar<\/p>\n
General Manager of Melia Bali Villas and Spa Resort Alfonso
\nRomero smiled broadly while carrying the turtle onto the beach.<\/p>\n
The cute green creature (Chelonia mydas) wiggled its front
\nflippers softly as if it knew that it was in a company of friends
\nand that its freedom was just a few steps away.<\/p>\n
A similar smile of excitement could also be seen on the faces
\nof the establishment's marketing director, Sharon Lee, and
\nexecutive vice president of Sol Melia Asia Pacific Daniel Lozano,
\nwho were walking next to Romero.<\/p>\n
In Lozano's hands was a medium-sized turtle with clear eyes
\nand a healthy, clean shell.<\/p>\n
A few meters from the water line, they placed the turtles on
\nthe warm, white sand of Nusa Dua beach. Clicking sounds from many
\ndigital cameras filled the air as a throng of locals and
\nforeigners, witnessing the release, tried to capture the
\nbeautiful moment.<\/p>\n
The creatures, four green turtles and one Olive Ridley
\n(Lepidochelys olivacea), dragged their bodies across the sand and
\nupon reaching the water started paddling their flippers in long,
\nslow strokes to gain sufficient momentum.<\/p>\n
In no time at all, the turtles -- lucky, considering that
\naround 3,000 were slaughtered in Bali in 2004 -- conquered the
\nbreaking waves and swam majestically into the azure sea.<\/p>\n
The release, which took place last Friday, indicated the
\nresort's commitment to the conservation and preservation of the
\nisland's ecological heritage.<\/p>\n
\"The sea turtle is an endangered species, a rare gem in our
\ncountry's ecological crown. The management of Melia Bali believes
\nthat protecting and preserving the natural beauty and richness of
\nthis island is a thing of utmost importance for not only the
\nfuture of tourism but also, most importantly, for the future
\nof the island itself,\" Melia Bali public relations officer Evy
\nSuryaningsih said.<\/p>\n
The establishment received the turtles from the owner of Bumbu
\nBali restaurant, a passionate environmentalist, who for years had
\ntried his best to save sea turtles from meeting a horrific end at
\nthe hands of local traffickers.<\/p>\n
\"The management has approached local WWF (Worldwide Fund for
\nNature) officers to discuss and explore various conservation
\nprograms that the hotel might become involved in or initiate in
\nthe future,\" she added.<\/p>\n
WWF Turtle Program local field officer Dita Cahyani, who
\nwitnessed the release, praised Melia Bali for conducting what she
\ncalled \"an environmentally responsible tourism operation.\"<\/p>\n
\"The release also reminded us of the importance of building a
\nstrong alliance with various individuals and institutions apart
\nfrom environmental NGOs to strengthen turtle conservation efforts
\nin the region,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Given the importance of tourism to the island's economy --
\npossessing a huge influence, both social and economic, and
\npowerful political leverage -- Dita suggested that the industry
\nshould play a more pivotal role in the struggle to
\nconserve the island's biodiversity.<\/p>\n
\"Having the industry on our side will surely raise turtle
\nconservation efforts to a whole new level,\" she added.<\/p>\n
Recently, the WWF Turtle Program organized a meeting of many
\nstakeholders to define and design new conservation strategies for
\nthe future.<\/p>\n
\"A broader base of public support, active participation from
\nvarious elements of the society and a mutually supportive
\nalliance with the business community and news media were
\nidentified in the meeting as key to the success of future
\nconservation programs,\" she said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/melia-saveguards-turtles-future-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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