Rare turtles die in Maumere farm

Yacob Herin, The Jakarta Post, Maumere

Almost a hundred rare sea turtles have died in a breeding farm in Magapanda village, about 35 kilometers from the East Nusa Tenggara town of Maumere.

Emanuel Victor Rayon, 58, a Magapanda villager, said that from around 100 turtles, only five had been able to survive in the breeding farm. He said that the turtles were caught by some fishermen who had then sold them to the Karya Social Foundation.

The foundation, in cooperation with the Sikka regency administration, and a British aid agency have bred the turtles in a pond that is two meters by six meters in area.

"That kind of breeding approach is similar to confining the turtles and killing them. It destroys our environment," Victor told The Jakarta Post.

He added that the regent police had not banned such action although the breeding farm was located only 50 meters away from the police station.

"Maybe the police do not know that turtles are an endangered animal species that is protected by law," Victor said.

Sikka Regency Police chief FX Bagus Wahyono said that illegal turtle poaching was prohibited by law and the poachers deserved severe punishment.

Sikka Fishery and Maritime Affairs Office chief Felix Radja said that his office did not know about the turtle breeding farm and condemned it.