Pelangi island plundered<\/p>\n
For many years we have been going to the islands in the bay of
\nJakarta, as we love snorkeling and observing the marine life at
\nthe reefs. It can be such a breathtaking sight and it relaxes and
\ntakes away the Jakarta stress.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately island after island has become so polluted
\nthrough the years, and the coral reefs have been plundered by
\npeople who believe they had the right to remove any nice piece of
\ncoral or hunt the beautiful fish.<\/p>\n
A few years ago we found a precious island with magnificent
\ncoral reefs, a joy to any snorkeler, diver and marine life lover.
\nThis was Pelangi island. We looked forward to going there at
\nevery opportunity we had, always hoping that the beauty of those
\nreefs would remain unspoiled and protected, more so since this
\nisland is part of one of the government's protected zones.<\/p>\n
Alas, a few years ago we were aghast as we realized the reefs
\nwere being plundered also, and in particular mollusks were being
\nremoved in great numbers. How we admired those multicolored
\nshellfish living there. There were little and huge ones, a wonder
\nof nature encrusted in and at the base of huge corals. Then we
\nfound many table-corals overturned, slashed and cut away so that
\nthe plunderers were able to get at the mollusks hidden below. Now
\nthe beautiful mollusks have disappeared. It is clear these reefs
\nare being regularly plundered by irresponsible elements, and
\nduring one of our visits to the island we found the culprits.
\nThey consist of Japanese people, who go there regularly only to
\nindulge in their grotesque tastes. There are those that go diving
\nthemselves, not to admire the reefs but in order to look where
\nthey can secure the mollusks they so crave.<\/p>\n
Others have a standing agreement with the employees working on
\nthe island, or with the fishermen that hire their boats to
\nguests. We caught one red-handed as he was carting away (with the
\nhelp of an employee) four huge mollusks to his bungalow. We spoke
\nto him and explained that he was ruining the reefs and breaking
\nthe law, as these reefs were under protection. But seemingly my
\nwords were not heeded, the normal thing with people obsessed by
\nabnormal appetites. We reported the case to the front office but
\nit seemed they politely listened and nothing else was done.<\/p>\n
A few days ago we once again visited this little paradise,
\nhoping things had changed as the management of the island had
\nchanged some time ago. Unfortunately we realized that even more
\ndamage had been done to the reef. But most of all, we realized
\nthat the mollusk catering service was still in full swing, and
\nwhen a group of Japanese arrived for the weekend the employees
\ngot real busy preparing \"dinner\" for them. When I went for an
\nafternoon walk around the island (when everyone was having a
\nsiesta) I caught two employees: one had just emptied a huge shell
\nof its contents and empty shells lay in the water, and another
\none was collecting sea urchins, seemingly another delicacy of the
\nJapanese, by quartering them alive and taking out the eggs. I
\nhave no special love for sea urchins, but the fact that they too
\nare turned into delicacies turned my stomach. I did lodge another
\ncomplaint with the front office, but this time I believe the
\nwhole world should know what is going on at the reefs in the bay
\nof Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Via this letter we also would like to draw the attention of
\nthe WWF officials, to check into the matter and to exercise a
\nstricter control over the zones declared protected by the
\nIndonesian government. We saw a huge billboard on the island
\nseemingly placed there by your organization, so we do hope that
\nyou are as concerned as we are.<\/p>\n
Last but not least, we would like to ask the management of
\nPelangi island to be strict with your employees and patrol the
\nisland regularly, so that this little paradise can still be saved
\nfrom those who don't care about ecology and the beauty and purity
\nof nature.<\/p>\n
YVONNE SETZEPFANDT<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pelangi-island-plundered-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }