Papua BBKSDA releases 20 sea turtles

The Papua Natural Resources Conservation Center (BBKSDA) released 20 sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) at Marekisi Beach, Yewena Village, Depapre District, Jayapura Regency, Papua.

Acting (Plt) Head of BBKSDA Papua Aziz Bakri in a press release received by ANTARA in Jayapura, Wednesday, said the release of turtles to return to wild life in the wild was carried out to commemorate World Turtle Day which is commemorated on May 23 every year.

"This is a form of public concern for the preservation of biodiversity, especially the sea turtles," he said.

According to Aziz, one of the privileges of the tortoise can be seen from its conservation status, both at the regional and international levels.

"In Indonesia, the turtledove is protected by law based on the Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry Number P.106/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 concerning Protected Types of Plants and Animals," he said.

He explained, based on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) red list, the tortoise has Vulnerable/VU (vulnerable) status.

"This means that this species is threatened with extinction unless conditions that suppress its survival and reproduction gradually improve," he said.

The release of 20 sea turtles was carried out with the Marekisi Nung Conservation Assisted Village group and the PLN Maluku Papua Development Parent Unit (UIP) on Saturday (28/5).

Thus, his party expressed their gratitude to PLN UIP Maluku Papua for their concern for the conservation of the sea turtles in Yewena Village by handing over Rp75 million in Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL) assistance to the Marekisi Nung Assisted Village Group.

"The assistance is intended to build five turtle hatcheries with a total capacity of 800 hatchlings," he said.

His party also gave appreciation to the village group assisted by Marekisi Nung, in particular to a resident of Karel Indey as a pioneer in turtle conservation in Yewena Village.