Protesters ransack WWF office in Bali

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)