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Sea turtles, eggs need protection
Indonesia activists from ProFauna: display placards which read 'Stop Killing Sea Turtles' during a demontration in Denpasar on Bali island on June 19, 2013
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Indonesia activists from ProFauna: display placards which read 'Stop Killing Sea Turtles' during a demontration in Denpasar on Bali island on June 19, 2013. The activists were protesting the illegal sea turtle trade in the local market. Indonesia, home to important migration routes at the crossroads of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, is home to six out of seven of the world's turtle species. (Sonny Tumbelaka/AFP/Getty Images) (Sonny Tumbelaka)
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span class="inline inline-center">Indonesia activists from ProFauna: display placards which read 'Stop Killing Sea Turtles' during a demontration in Denpasar on Bali island on June 19, 2013. The activists were protesting the illegal sea turtle trade in the local market. Indonesia, home to important migration routes at the crossroads of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, is home to six out of seven of the world's turtle species. (Sonny Tumbelaka/AFP/Getty Images)
The sea turtle population along the northern and southern coasts of East Manggarai regency on Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) could be at risk of extinction due to the rampant poaching of the turtles and their eggs.
A number of conservationists and animal lovers in Flores have voiced concerns over the matter, especially during the nesting season on a number of beaches.
'The government should immediately protect sea turtles in Kota Komba district's southern coast and Sambirampas district's northern coast,' conservationist Rofino Kant told The Jakarta Post in East Manggarai capital Borong.
'The slaughter of sea turtles and the poaching of their eggs is not acceptable.'
Rofino said the southern coast of Kota Komba from Waewole Beach until Tanjung Bendera and Waewole Marine Park was the safest turtle habitat. Conservation activities and campaigns need to be carried out here, especially during nesting season.
'Several experts who previously conducted research in the area found a rare turtle species that must be preserved by every party, including fishermen, villagers and village authorities in the area,' he said.
He added that turtle poaching was rampant in Kota Komba from the 1970s to the 1980s. At the time the only turtle conservation facility was located in Sungai Mausui.
There were several nesting points along the southern coast that were then immediately protected in cooperation with villagers.
Rofino added that many fishermen from outside the regency poached sea turtles in Sambirampas.
The poachers are never caught because they quickly flee after poaching the turtles and eggs.
East Manggarai Tourism and Culture Agency's head of tourism product development section, Damasus Ndama, said his agency coordinated with relevant agencies, such as those handling forestry and maritime and fisheries affairs, in protecting sea turtles.
For example, if a nesting location is in a tourism site, then it is the tourism agency's duty to inform the locals not to poach the turtles and their eggs.
