Turtle conservation Pemuteran style<\/p>\n
By Alpha Savitri<\/p>\n
BULELENG, North Bali (JP): Pemuteran village, Gerokgak
\nsubdistrict, Buleleng, Bali, is gaining fame as a haven for
\ntourists with a deep love for meditation and the sea as well as a
\nsite for a captive breeding program of three rare turtle species.<\/p>\n
Until the 1980s, many turtles were laying eggs in the sands of
\nBali's beaches. Of the world's six turtle species, five have
\ntheir home in Bali. Unfortunately, turtle hunting has not only
\nleft the island's turtles nearly extinct but has also discouraged
\nthem from ever visiting Bali's beaches any more.<\/p>\n
Luckily, unlike in Denpasar, Pemuteran locals do not hunt
\nturtles for commercial purposes and the turtles proliferate on
\nthe warm black sands of Pemuteran.<\/p>\n
Pemuteran beach is home to green turtles, turtles with scales
\nand turtles with mock scales. When the eggs of this reptile hatch
\ninto tukik (baby turtles), they have a hard beginning because
\nthey fall prey to larger animals. As soon as they get into the
\nsea, birds and some large species of fish are ready to gobble
\nthem up. Experts estimate that only one out of every 1,000 tukik
\nwill survive and mature.<\/p>\n
Australian citizen Chris Brown, who has lived in Pemuteran
\nmany years, has enlightened the locals as to the importance of
\nconserving all species of turtles in this area. When he learned
\nthat turtles were fond of visiting Pemuteran beach, Chris and a
\nnumber of villagers prepared a special site for a captive
\nbreeding program.<\/p>\n
In 1994, Pemuteran began its captive breeding program, using
\nonly plastic tanks. When it was clear that the tukik could
\nsurvive, they were released into the sea.<\/p>\n
While originally intended only for saving turtles landing on
\nthe village beach, the captive breeding program has become an
\namazing tourist attraction. Tourists visit the village every day
\nto have a look at how the tukik learn to survive.<\/p>\n
These tourists are generally divers, nature lovers and
\nenvironmentalists. They do not just admire the efforts made by
\nPemuteran villagers to save these rare turtles but they also give
\nmoral and financial support.<\/p>\n
Every tourist visiting this village and giving financial help
\nis awarded a certificate as evidence of their participation in
\nconserving turtles. The locals use the money collected from these
\ntourists to take care of the tukik.<\/p>\n
One American has donated Rp 8 million (US$ 800) for the
\nconstruction of permanent tanks for the tukik.<\/p>\n
Three water tanks, made of cement and measuring three meters
\nby two meters, have been built in a row and the locals have been
\nassigned to take care of these tanks. On Aug. 16 every year,
\nvillage school children release the turtles into the sea.<\/p>\n
\"We have chosen this date because the next day is the
\ncelebration of our independence day. The children have their
\ncelebration in a simple way: they release turtles. It is good
\nenvironmental education for the children. They learn to love the
\nenvironment very early in their lives,\" said Chris.<\/p>\n
This environmental campaign for the children is shown to be
\nsuccessful because whenever children from Pemuteran take part in
\ndrawing contests, most of them draw turtles.<\/p>\n
Apart from making the water tanks for tukik, the locals also
\nprepare a simple place for the turtles to hatch: a sandy area
\nnear the tanks.<\/p>\n
Generally, the turtles in Pemuteran lay eggs around Gunung
\nSer, close to the village cemetery. Gunung Ser is a beautiful
\nhilly area in Pemuteran, located not far from the coast.<\/p>\n
In December, February or March, a turtle will lay between 100
\nand 150 eggs. When turtles reach land, they leave a trail. The
\nlocals track them and then take the eggs to the captive breeding
\nsite. A person taking a turtle egg to this site gets Rp 1,000.<\/p>\n
At the breeding site, locals dig holes 30 cm to 40 cm in
\ndiameter in the sand. Twenty eggs to 25 eggs are buried in one
\nhole.<\/p>\n
The eggs hatch after 40 days to 60 days. However, not all the
\neggs in each hole hatch as the eggs are very sensitive. \"If the
\neggs are not carefully handled, they may not hatch,\" said I Wayan
\nSiram, who is responsible for the captive breeding of turtles. He
\nsaid only 70 percent of the eggs usually hatch.<\/p>\n
Not all species of turtles are included in Appendix I of the
\nConvention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).
\nTurtle trading is prohibited. Indonesian ratified CITES in 1978.<\/p>\n
At the national level, all turtles are protected pursuant to
\nGovernment Regulation No. 7\/1999. No species of turtles can be
\ncommercially used, either dead or alive. Nor can their parts be
\ncommercially used.<\/p>\n
In Bali, Gubernatorial Decision No. 22\/1990 asserts that only
\na maximum of 5,000 turtles can be captured a year. In Badung,
\nBali, there is an even stricter regulation, stating that only a
\nturtle with its kerapas measuring 50 cm or more can be captured.<\/p>\n
Despite this strict regulation, the trade of turtles and their
\nparts continues to flourish in Bali, particularly in Denpasar and
\nBadung.<\/p>\n
Luckily, Pemuteran villagers are willing to preserve the
\nturtles, whose population in Bali is now diminishing. \"We use one
\nor two full-grown turtles for our religious rites. We have never
\nbenefited from them commercially,\" said I Wayan Siram.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/turtle-conservation-pemuteran-style-1447893297",
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