Together With Local People, Lets Protect Sea Turtle In Kuta Beach Bal
Contents
- Together With Local People, Lets Protect Sea Turtle In Kuta Beach Bal
- Updated Sea Turtle Protection programs in Kuta Bali 2003
- The landing of Sea Turtles
- Table 1. The landing of Sea Turtles in Kuta Beach and Klungkung Beach from January-July 2003
- The Rescue of Nesting Sea Turtles
- Information Billboard
- Brochures Production
- Approach to Traditional Village
- Impact of the Programs
- For further information, please contact
Who don't familiar with the beauty of Kuta beach? Tourists both from foreign and domestic visit the beach every day to see the famous surf. They also enjoy the splash of heat and its enchantment in the dawn in the Westside. Surprisingly none considers that now Kuta beach is also home for sea turtle.
Historically, almost whole beaches in Bali were landing beaches. Along with the running time, now only few beaches left for turtle to lay eggs. One of the beaches is Kuta Beach. The beach is not only visited by tourists but sea turtle to lay eggs. This is surprising since the beach surrounding is crowded by buildings.
Sea turtles that land on the beach are olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea). In 2002 85 newly hatched olive ridley turtle to the sea. And now still waiting for another eggs to hatch. In order to safe keeping the landed turtle on Kuta beach, the Kuta Safeguard (satgas) cooperate with ProFauna Bali Office to make the rescue effort in Kuta beach. The program started in 2002 consists of nest protection with its eggs, the setting up of alert board in some beaches where turtle use to lay eggs. ProFauna also arranges training on managing and rescuing sea turtle for the Kuta safeguard. Later, in 2003, Human Society International supports the protection program in Kuta.
Although Bali is famous as the central of its turtle slaughtering habit (centralized in Tanjung Benoa) but this cooperation hopefully a positive aspects about sea turtle protection in Bali. This program puts aside such opinion that Balinese are fond of consuming turtle meat. There turn out to be many who care about turtle protection like Kuta people lead by Kuta safeguard. Without being paid, they work hard to protect the landed turtle to lay eggs in Kuta beach. However, the most important thing is that turtle release is free from commercial aspects!
Updated Sea Turtle Protection programs in Kuta Bali 2003
During this decade, Kuta Beach has been well developing as the tourism center in Bali. The condition affects to the species that use the beach for their life and breeding such as the sea turtles. Several prominent figures of Kuta traditional villagers stated that previously there were many sea turtles laying their eggs on Kuta Beach. Time by time the activity was reducing then became so rare to find. However, in this last two years, the sea turtles have been starting to appear landing on the Kuta Beach-Bali. The fact is surprising as in the middle of the crowded of tourism center in Kuta Beach there are still many sea turtles landing and nesting on this beach.
On the beginning, the nesting sea turtles in Kuta Beach were handled by Beach Guarded Team in Kuta Beach (called Satgas Pantai Kuta), however limited knowledge in handling the sea turtles caused the eggs of the turtles could not be hatched. They routinely watery the hatching site with assumption that the eggs can be hatched (like plant grow). Then since 2002, Satgas Kuta has been cooperation with ProFauna Indonesia to handle the nesting sea turtles in Kuta Beach. On the cooperation, ProFauna accompanies Satgas Kuta who work on the beach and gives advices about how to handle the nesting sea turtle.
In 2003, Humane Society International supported ProFauna Indonesia funds to run the sea turtle protection programs in Kuta Bali. The programs supported by HIS was started from February to June 2003. However, the sea turtle protection program was not only conducted in Kuta Beach but also in Klunkung beach.
The landing of Sea Turtles
During 2003 up to June 2003, there have been 10 sea turtles landing on Kuta Beach and Klungkung Beach (see detail in Table 1). The turtle species landed were from Pacific Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), Hawksbill Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), and Leathery Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). Particularly for Kuta Beach, all sea turtles landed and nested were from Lepidochelys olivacea species. Total number of the eggs nested from the sea turtles in Kuta and Klunkung beach were 714 eggs and 600 of them were from Kuta Beach. The successful hatching level of the eggs is 41,6%.
Table 1. The landing of Sea Turtles in Kuta Beach and Klungkung Beach from January-July 2003
| No | Date of Nesting | Sea Turtle Species | Eggs Number | Nesting site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 23/3/2003 | Lepidochelys olivacea | 123 | In front of Sahid Hotel Kuta |
| 2. | 12/5/2003 | Lepidochelys olivacea | 35 | In front of Hard Rock Café Kuta |
| 3. | 13/05/2003 | Lepidochelys olivacea | 100 | In front of Bintang Bali Hotel Kuta |
| 4. | 13/5/2003 | Lepidochelys olivacea | 120 | In front of Inna Hotel Kuta |
| 5. | 16/5/2003 | Lepidochelys olivacea | 108 | In front of Sentra Kuta |
| 6. | 22/5/2003 | Eretmochelys imbricata | 0 | Pantai (beach) Lepang Klungkung |
| 7. | 23/5/2003 | Dermochelys coriacea | 0 | Pantai Wates Klungkung |
| 8. | 7/6/2003 | Dermochelys coriacea | 114 | Pantai Lepang, Klungkung |
| 9. | 12/6/2003 | Lepidochelys olivacea | 114 | Near Satgas Pantai Kuta Post |
| 10. | 12/6/2003 | Lepidochelys olivacea | 0 | Near Satgas Pantai Kuta Post |
| Eggs Total Number 714 | ||||
The Rescue of Nesting Sea Turtles
The good relationship has been formed between Satgas Pantai Kuta and ProFauna Indonesia Bali Office in rescuing the landing sea turtles on Kuta Beach. In every landing of sea turtles, Satgas Pantai Kuta would be directly contacting ProFauna. The next, ProFauna together with Satgas Pantai Kuta would do action in protecting the nested eggs. If the eggs placed on the beach were too near with the water and having high risk of being submerged then ProFauna and Satgas Pantai Kuta would move them to the safer place without disturbing the eggs. On the safe place, the nest of sea turtle’s eggs would be hedged and signed.
On 5 May 2003, ProFauna Indonesia in cooperation with Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam/BKSDA Bali (Local Forestry Department Office in Bali) conducted training of handling sea turtles to Satgas Pantai Kuta. The training was aimed to raise Satgas Pantai Kuta’s ability and knowledge about sea turtle protection effort especially to relocate the eggs of sea turtles.
On the training participated by 32 Satgas Pantai Kuta, ProFauna represented by Wita Wahyudi and BKSDA Bali represented by Ivan Juhandara presented topic of biological cycle of sea turtle, technical in handling the eggs of sea turtles, and relocating the sea turtle’s nest. Satgas Pantai Kuta participated the training with full of enthusiasm especially when conducting practical season in relocating sea turtle’s nest that used chicken eggs. All Satgas Pantai Kuta seemed very happy and noticed every detail of theory and practice given on the training. Moreover, every of the participants got the ‘Save the Sea Turtle’ t-shirt from ProFauna Indonesia. The training was closed by placing guardian nets for turtle’s nests also installing the information billboard about turtle protection by the members of Satgas Pantai Kuta.
The training to Satgas Pantai Kuta in handling sea turtles was published by three local mass media they are Warta Bali (6/5/2003), Harian Nusa (6/5/2003) and Radio Suara Jangger Bali FM. The clipping of the articles were attached to this report. Especially for the radio Suara Jangger FM, the news was conducted on air by interviewing the coordinator of ProFauna Bali Office, I Wayan Wiradnyana and coordinator of Satgas Pantai Kuta, Gusti Tresna.
ProFauna Indonesia is also involved actively in releasing the hatching turtles (Tukik: Ind.) on the Kuta Beach. If there were hatching turtles (mostly in the middle of the night) Satgas Pantai Kuta would be directly contacting staff of ProFauna Indonesia Bali Office. Immediately after receiving the call, staff and members of ProFauna Indonesia go to location to help rescue and release the hatching turtles to the sea. The release of hatching turtles were always interesting the tourists surround the Kuta Beach to be involved in helping the program. Many of the foreign tourists commended the turtle rescue program in Kuta Beach. Sea turtles on Kuta Beach increase the special beauty of Kuta Beach.
Information Billboard
ProFauna Indonesia in cooperation with BKSDA Bali placed 8 information billboards about sea turtles conservation on the beaches where sea turtles often land and nest there, they are in Kuta Beach and Klungkung Beach. The billboards contain Information on six species of sea turtles inhabit in Indonesia, their threatened and the appealing to public to be involved in protecting sea turtles. The billboards were also written phone numbers of BKSDA and ProFauna Indonesia Bali Office as the hotline number for sea turtles protection information.
Five of billboards have also been placed in Klunkung regency, they are on di Tegalbesar beach, Klotok beach, Kesumba beach, Lepang beach and Pesinggahan beach. While in Kuta, three billboards have been placed. One of them which is the biggest one is placed on the main entrance to Kuta Beach (near Post of Satgas Pantai Kuta).
Brochures Production
ProFauna Indonesia also produced brochures about sea turtle protection. The brochure production was also followed the fact that there are many tourists both domestic and foreign asked and collected information to Satgas Pantai Kuta about the program of sea turtles rescue done by ProFauna and Satgas Pantai Kuta. To make it more efficient, Satgas Pantai Kuta proposed to be produced brochures about sea turtle rescue program in Kuta Beach so that it can be distributed to the tourists or visitors who ask for information. 3,000 brochures has been produced titled ‘From Kuta Beach, Saving Sea Turtles’. The brochures contain two languages: Indonesian and English. The brochures will be planned to be placed at the post of Satgas Pantai Kuta and ProFauna Indonesia offices.
Approach to Traditional Village
Although the good relationship with Satgas Pantai Kuta has been made, ProFauna Bali office still keeps conducting intensive approach to the prominent figures of Kuta traditional village about the sea turtle protection especially in Kuta. Satgas Pantai Kuta and traditional villagers in Kuta give the warm welcome to the sea turtle protection programs.
From several informal discussions with Satgas Pantai Kuta, it was found that they strongly disagree with the sea turtle trade in Tanjung Benoa that uses the name of tradition and religion to legalize it. They deplore some of Tanjung Benoa villagers who still keep killing the sea turtles while on other side the Satgas Pantai Kuta have been working hard to rescue the sea turtles to continue sea turtles generation.
Impact of the Programs
The impact from sea turtle protection programs in Kuta is the rise of awareness and ability of Satgas Pantai Kuta in handling the nesting sea turtles. The Kuta Traditional villagers have shown their more support to the sea turtles protection programs. The officials of BKSDA Bali have also been more active and enthusiasm in doing the sea turtle rescue activities.
Tourists visiting Kuta Beach and accidentally passing the hedged sea turtle nests on the beach become more aware about the sea turtle protection as they often ask further information to the Satgas Pantai Kuta. The programs are so effective to spread information about the sea turtles to the public especially to the tourists visiting Kuta Beach.
The sea turtle programs in Kuta become kind of pilot project of the protection of sea turtle involving the local people. The fact can be seen from the program of comparison study from villagers surround Pantai Sanur to see how Satgas Pantai Kuta doing the activity in protecting sea turtles together with ProFauna Indonesia. The sea turtle programs in Kuta have also took interest from central Forestry Department (from Forestry Information Center-Jakarta) to see the sea turtle protection programs in Kuta Bali directly.
Hopefully the turtle protection program running in Bali can bring the better image of this paradise island as well as Indonesia in general (D).
For further information, please contact:
ProFauna Bali Office
PO BOX 3435 DENPASAR 80034 Ph. 0361 8085800 Fax. 0361 424731
email: wayan@profauna.org