GIANYAR BEACH, Indonesia (Reuters) – More than 10,000 baby turtles were released into the sea off the Indonesian island of Bali on Friday, as part of conservationists efforts to boost the population of a vulnerable species and promote environmental protection.
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Conservation groups brought crates each loaded with dozens of small turtles to the islands Gianyar beach and encouraged local people and volunteers to line up on the sand and launch the hatchlings together.
The turtles, simply a few inches long, scurried over the black sand and pebbles as the tide sprinkled over them.
” Its really interesting to see all of these turtles being launched into the wild,” said American volunteer Jessica Lieberman, including she hoped they would make it through.
Since there are few places in which they will nest, the Olive Ridley turtles are amongst the most abundant sea turtles but are still considered vulnerable.
The turtles ought to normally weigh in between 34-50 kg (75-110 pound) as an adult and grow to 60-70cm long (24-28 inches).
Flavianus Erwin Putranto, a preservation volunteer, said turtle eggs were appearing in less put on Bali than previously, but programs to assist safeguard them were seeing success.
” We are able to gather and conserve them. Hopefully we can hatch more turtles and launch them back into the ocean,” He stated.
Sea turtle populations have decreased over the last few years due to hunting, loss of beach nesting sites, over-harvesting of their eggs and being caught in fishing equipment.
Bali authorities launched 25 of the bigger green turtles into the sea on Wednesday after their rescue last month during a raid on prohibited traffickers.
Agus Budi Santoso, head of the Bali Natural Resources and Conservation Center, advised developing a “green zone” of designated beaches for turtles to lay eggs safely, far from hotels and tightness sites.
Reporting by Sultan Anshori; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Alison Williams
A child turtle is seen as it is being launched at a beach in Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia, August 7, 2020. REUTERS/Sultan Anshori
