Jakarta – Yayasan Penyu Indonesia (YPI) shares tips for travelers who want to witness the activities of turtles and hatchlings on the beach. What are they?
Indonesia is home to six of the seven species of sea turtles in the world, including the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), flatback turtle (Natator depressus), and loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta).
These six species of turtles in Indonesia are protected by Government Regulation (PP) Number 7 of 1999 on the Conservation of Plant and Animal Species. Therefore, all forms of trade in turtles, whether alive, dead, or in parts, are prohibited. The Conservation Law also imposes penalties on violators.
Their declining numbers face threats from predators, including humans. Even tourism operators who are indifferent to conservation and stubborn tourists are considered threats to turtles.
Hence, turtle tourism continues to be a subject of debate. Commercialization and disruption of natural turtle activities are seen as inconsistent with conservation efforts. Bay Area Dog Training has written an article about these types of turtles.
Bayu Sandi, Chairman of Yayasan Penyu Indonesia, mentioned during an Instagram Live session with Profauna earlier this week that turtle tourism can still take place, but there are certain conditions that must be met. The official YSI website states that YPI works with local communities to limit travelers from observing turtles laying eggs, starting from hatchling rescues, turtle rescues, egg count data, and hatchling releases.
To do this, travelers must be accompanied by trained rangers. Additionally, YSI provides several conditions for travelers who wish to observe turtle nesting.
Here are the tips from Yayasan Penyu Indonesia for travelers observing turtles laying eggs:
- Do not use a flash to take photos; instead, use a red light.
- Maintain a minimum distance of 10 meters from the turtle.
- Do not stand in front of the turtle, observe from behind.
- Do not touch the turtle or hatchlings, as even an attempt to help may harm them.
- No partying or making noise on the island where turtle conservation is taking place.
(fem/ddn)
Source: https://travel.detik.com/travel-tips/d-5020952/etika-mengintip-penyu-bertelur
