( WNAM MONITORING): Two of the four green turtles (Chelonia mydas) rescued from hunters on June 29 were released into the waters of Banyak Island in Aceh Singkil, Aceh.
The protected sea turtles were released by personnel from the Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), local police, and residents, said the agency’s head, Ujang Wisnu Barata.
Speaking to journalists on Saturday, Barata stated that the other two green turtles had been freed into their habitat on July 3 and 9.
On June 29, the Aceh Singkil police and the search and rescue agency arrested a man and his son from Nias Utara in North Sumatra for catching six green sea turtles in the waters around Palambak Island.
Two of the six sea turtles were found dead on the suspects’ boat, Barata said, adding that the remaining turtles were released after veterinarians confirmed they were healthy.
“We take pride in the fact that Banyak Island is home to various marine turtles,” Barata said. “It is our responsibility to preserve them for future generations.”
The Indonesian archipelago is home to several iconic species, including sea turtles.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Indonesia reports that six of the seven living species of sea turtles recognized by scientists can be found in the country.
According to WWF Indonesia’s official website, four of these six species—green turtles, leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), and olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea)—lay their eggs in several coastal areas of the country.
Indonesia’s waters are also the most crucial migratory route for sea turtles at the crossroads of the Pacific and Indian oceans, according to the WWF.
The coastal areas of Abun in Tambrauw, West Papua, are known as the largest nesting spots for leatherback turtles in the Pacific region.
The Derawan Islands in East Kalimantan have been recorded by WWF Indonesia as the largest nesting spot for green turtles in Southeast Asia.
On Java Island, Trisik Beach in Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta, is also known as a green turtle nesting site.
