Bali is well known as a beautiful tourist paradise mixed with a strong tradition and culture. But who would have thought that in the middle of such a combination, appeared a serious threat to endanger this rare species, sea turtles.
Turtle is actually a long-lived creature. Some scientists believe that turtles can live as old as humans’ age or even more. Turtles often migrate in the range of hundreds or even thousands of kilometers between the local places to eat and where they lay eggs. From all of the habitats of sea turtles in the entire world, Indonesia is a home to six of the seven species of sea turtles in the world. Approximately 143 locations in Indonesia had been identified as a home for sea turtle.
Ironically, the populations of six species of sea turtles are listed as vulnerable from the threat of extinction. This also influenced the success rate of sea turtles live to adulthood is also very low. Experts say that only one of thousand hatchlings can survive to adulthood.
Activities utilization of sea turtles in Indonesia is a long history. Since ancient times, turtles have been hunted by fishermen community for the meat and eggs. In addition, major threats facing sea turtles are also currently includes the destruction of habitat and nesting places, fishing, illegal trafficking and exploitation that endangers the environment.
So, how’s the relationship between sea turtle with this island? Historically, almost all the beaches in Bali were once a landing spot for sea turtle that will lay eggs. On the other hand we know that Bali is a tourist paradise which became a destination for many domestic and foreign tourists. Not only the natural beauty and tourism objects which is the main attraction of Bali, but also customs and culture of Bali that is still strong making it’s more unique in the eyes of the tourists. It’s a big dilemma that this rare animal meat is also used in Hindu rituals in Bali, especially for the big stage or the main ritual.
Since long time ago, people of Bali have been commonly consuming turtle meat for customs purposes, especially green turtles. For the Balinese, turtles regarded as sacred animals (Ulam Suci) that can be used as an animal component offering. No wonder if Bali have been the center of the world's largest sea turtle consumption. In some ceremonies and religious customs in Bali, turtle meat is used for dishes like sate. Scarcity of sea turtles and high demand of turtle meat in Bali causes the supply of this protected animals were not sufficient if it’s just supplied from the territory of Bali. It’s often came from other places like Irian, South Sulawesi, Maluku and Nusa Tenggara.
Fortunately since 2002, several parties began to pay attention and action against this phenomenon. One was in Kuta Beach which has long been used by the species of Olive Ridley sea turtles or commonly known as “penyu lekang” to lay eggs. Recently in Kuta Beach also established sea turtle breeding named Kuta Beach Sea Turtle Conservation. Funded program by Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia and Quiksilver is an initiative by Agung Ngurah Tresna from Satgas Kuta and I Wayan Wiradnyana from NGO ProFauna Bali.
With the construction of this sea turtle conservation, also complements the previous sea turtle conservation program in Serangan Island. Sea turtle conservation in Serangan Island is the first conservation center and the only one who managed by local community in Indonesia. In the area of Bali, the essential ecosystem which includes in nesting sites found in several areas such as Lepang beach at Klungkung district, Perancak beach at Jembrana district, and Pemuteran beach at Buleleng district.
"Our intention is entirely sincere to conserve sea turtles in Kuta. We are very grateful for this good will is supported by many parties, "said Agung Ngurah Tresna. A statue of a giant sea turtle with a 7-meter width, length of nine meters, and height 3 meter that had always wanted to be realized currently stands firmly beside the office of Satgas Kuta. The building is not only an icon of KBSTC, but inside the statue is really a place for turtle eggs to be hatched. At the same time there’s also built an information center of turtle conservation which is managed by ProFauna.
Several actions currently undertaken to save the sea turtles in Kuta beach are securing olive ridley turtles to land to lay eggs along Kuta beach, secure location or relocation of nests and eggs to the hatchery location, and tagging the location of nest or hatch which contains information on number of eggs, the date found or relocated, and estimated time to hatch. In this KBSTC we can also participate to release the baby turtle to the sea. This is a good value for the attraction to foreign tourists who were vacationing in Kuta beach.
Agung Ngurah Tresna also added that there were some tourists who used to come and critize Balinese people who frequently consume turtle meat. However, after getting an explanation about the turtle conservation program, they return to thank him for saving the sea turtles. Tourists also often extend their length of stay in Kuta just to witness the hatching turtle eggs or releasing the baby turtles into the sea.
"We're here campaigning for turtle conservation without expectation of profit. But instead there was a foreign tourist who came here just made a donation box for other tourists who come to KBSTC. In fact, all of them gave very positive responses, even some of them helped materially, "said Wayan as the coordinator for ProFauna Bali.
The existence of sea turtles conservation in Kuta and other beaches in Bali is expected to lift back the positive image of tourism in Bali. "Once Balinese people are famous as the slayers of sea turtles, but since there are rules from the government, currently we are no longer like who we used to be. Turtle meat is used only for certain ceremonies, and it’s also through the permission granted by the government, "said Bendesa Adat Kuta, I Gusti Ketut Kuta Beach Sudira during the inauguration of Kuta Beach Sea Turtle Conservation.
For the future both Satgas Kuta and NGO ProFauna really hope for community participation in this program. KBSTC will not only become a new tourist attraction in Kuta, but will also further develop to be the center of scientific study of sea turtles. Beside that, they also hoped to give early education to children about conservation. That is why they will always be welcome to every tourist in Kuta, from the children to adults, who want to get involved directly in the process of releasing baby turtles, or simply deepen the information about the presence and efforts to conserve these rare animals now onwards.
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