Green turtles nearly extinct in C. Sulawesi

Badri Djawara, The Jakarta Post, Palu, Central Sulawesi

Although Indonesia has laws on protecting the environment, it continues to lose its priceless biodiversity because it is largely ignored by crooks and complicit law enforcers.

It is not surprising, therefore, that poachers have laid their hands on rare and protected animals, many of which are national treasures, because they fetch a high price at the market.

Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) are no exception.

Six of the world's seven species of green turtles are found in Indonesia.

In Central Sulawesi, green turtles are found on and around Pasoso Island, Donggala regency. To get to this island, you must first travel to the village of Labean, Sirenja district, a two hour journey from Palu.

From Laben, you can take a motorboat for an hour to Tanjung Manimbaya. From here you can hire another motorboat for the 90- minute trip to Pasoso Island.

Once there, you will agree the white sandy beaches of Pasoso Island are simply stunning.

Along the way you come across flocks of seagulls and numerous islets with white beaches.

Measuring 5,000 hectares, Pasoso was designated a marine animal reserve in 1989 to protect the local flora and fauna.

Unfortunately, the relevant government agencies are yet to enforce the degree of protection and attention stipulated by the local decree. The result is that the population of green turtles is declining at an alarming rate.

"I'm not sure when locals began to like the meat of green turtles. They say it is delicious," said H. Zakir Lataha, head of Pomolulu, the closest village to this island.

Zakir has lived in this village for dozens of years. He said he is alarmed at the gradual loss of local green turtles. "Usually, these turtles are stolen by Madurese and Selayar fishermen. They say they can sell the meat at a high price at the market," he said.

His great concern is not without reason. Data compiled by Ibnu Chaldun Foundation (YIC) between 1988 and 1999 and surveys conducted by a number of non-governmental organizations such as Palu-based Sakada BQD, reveal a massive reduction in the green turtle population.

"In October 1999, for three days at a stretch, only one green turtle was seen laying eggs. In August 1998, Sakada BQD recorded just 13 green turtles a week," said H. Sofyan Faried Lembah, YIC executive director, quoting the Sakada BQD survey.

Sofyan, who teaches at the School of Law at Tadulako University in Palu, added that only one green turtle had been recorded laying eggs in January 2002.

"These results show that we must take immediate action to save these green turtles," he said.

With a team of researchers led by Kamil Dj. Adam, who holds a masters degree in animal husbandry, they have came forward with ideas to breed green turtles in captivity.

"We are trying to find a model for the hatching of green turtle eggs using semi-natural and natural methods. If these methods succeed, we can perhaps save part of our natural wealth," he said.

He added that a green turtle only lays eggs once it has reached an age of between 18 and 21 years. The trouble is that they are often killed by poachers before they reach this age.

"So, only one or two can reach the age suitable for laying eggs," Kamil said.

Residents of the village of Pomolulu have made efforts to protect green turtles. One of these efforts is to introduce a village regulation about collecting the eggs of green turtles.

The formula is simple. For every three turtle eggs laid, two can be collected, but the third must be allowed to hatch.

Unfortunately, this regulation has often been violated. The eggs are sold locally for between Rp 500 and Rp 700 each.

To be able to get to the sites where they lay their eggs, these turtles must struggle hard. They lug themselves through piles of plastic waste and driftwood on the beach to find a secure place where they can lay their eggs.

A green turtle will take about an hour for this difficult trip. After which, it must work hard to dig a 45-centimeter-deep hole in the sand.

Like their egg-laying, protecting the green turtles seems an uphill struggle. Despite the designation of these sites as protected zones, poachers continue to collect turtle eggs unabated and kill young turtles and their mothers because their meat can fetch up to Rp 150,000 a kilogram at the market.