KKP Releases 21 Endangered Green Turtles Back into the Wild

The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has released 21 green turtles (Chelonia mydas) rescued from a smuggling attempt at Serangan Beach, South Denpasar, Bali. The release marks the success of an integrated handling process encompassing rescue, rehabilitation, and the return of protected wildlife to their natural habitat as part of efforts to preserve the marine ecosystem. The turtles were previously secured by authorities in the Sumberkima area, Buleleng Regency, on Wednesday, 10 June 2026. All turtles were then evacuated to the Turtle Conservation and Education Center (TCEC) to undergo quarantine, observation, and thorough health checks by a veterinary team. After being declared healthy and fit for release based on technical recommendations, all turtles were finally returned to their natural habitat on Tuesday, 7 July 2026. “This success is the result of synergy from upstream to downstream. KKP will continue to strengthen supervision and collaboration to close loopholes in the illegal trade of protected aquatic biota,” said the Director General of Marine Management, Koswara, in an official statement in Jakarta on Thursday, 9 July 2026. The Head of the Denpasar Marine Management Centre, Getreda, explained that the entire handling process was carried out with conservation principles as a priority. Physical recovery was the main focus so that the released turtles could resume their ecological function in maintaining the balance of the marine ecosystem. As biota that play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of the marine ecosystem, green turtles are protected by various national regulations, including the Decree of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Number 66 of 2025 concerning Protected Fish Species. Internationally, green turtles are also listed in Appendix I of CITES, which prohibits all forms of international trade for commercial purposes. Therefore, any capture, transport, trade, or utilisation without a permit constitutes a legal violation. This release aligns with the policy of Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, who places the protection of marine biodiversity as a key part of implementing the Blue Economy policy.