Conservation versus tradition in Derawan turtle conservation

The Jakarta Post, Berau, East Kalimantan

Berau residents regard the turtle as an animal that brings luck. But they frown on eating its meat, believing that such an act bring bad luck.

That turtles are revered by people here has to do with a legend that turtles rescued their ancestors from a sea disaster a long, long time ago. That is why people in Berau frown on turtle meat but not on turtle eggs.

The plan to protect turtles on the islands along the eastern coast of the regency has delighted environmentalists, though some locals are wary of losing their access to turtle eggs.

"The challenge is that we will be dealing with the centuries- old tradition of consuming turtle eggs," said Muhammad Salim of the Berau-based Kalbu Foundation.

Salim, whose family comes from Derawan island, said turtle eggs were a favorite food of the rulers of the Berau kingdom. And turtle eggs were also served on special occasions, some of which continue today.

The eggs also are popular gifts and souvenirs in Berau. "Every one visiting Berau usually take 50 to 100 turtle eggs as gifts back home. It is a tradition, so if a visitor leaves Berau without turtle eggs, he will not feel like he has visited the islands," Salim said.

Long before turtles were declared endangered in Berau, turtle eggs were the local administration's specialty and were served at official events. In honor of Berau's close ties with the species, the local administration chose the turtle as its symbol.

The tradition of eating turtle eggs, which has deep roots in the Berau community, has hampered conservation efforts. Awareness campaigns have been launched by a number of NGOs, such as Kehati, the Turtle Foundation, the World Wild Foundation-Indonesia, the Kalbu Foundation and Bestari, and all have been met with a negative response.

Some parties here harbor prejudices against environmental activists.

Since the local administration entrusted the exploitation of turtles to the private sector through a concession system, businesspeople are the ones who benefit the most from the business arrangement.

Nita of the Kehati Foundation said it was difficult to make locals aware of the importance of turtle conservation.

"The biggest problem in fostering turtle conservation is the difficulty in getting the local people to participate," she said.

Some people support efforts to preserve turtles, but others are opposed to it. Nita said some Berau administration officials who attended an informal meeting on Derawan island on March 18, 2002, left for home with turtle eggs in their hands, suggesting that they did not fully support conservation efforts.

--Pariama Hutasoit