Protesters ransack WWF office in Bali

DENPASAR, Bali: Some 200 people protesting the ban on the turtle trade ran amok here on Monday morning at the local office of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

Protesters ransacked the WWF office on Jl. Hayam Wuruk, with some spray painting the office while others threatened to burn it down.

There was initially little done by security personnel to disperse the protesters and protect the office.

A WWF employee at the scene told journalists that no one was injured in the incident, because all staff members were evacuated prior to the attack.

Some protesters said they were retaliating against WWF's campaign against the turtle trade.

Environmentalists have expressed concern over the declining number of turtles in Bali, as poachers continue to collect the animal's eggs, which have a high commercial value.

They say the illegal trade in turtles over the past 10 years has accounted for the disappearance of about 15,000 turtles. (zen)