Indonesia: 31 giant turtles lay eggs in Raja Ampat throughout 2018

Antara 4 Feb 19;

Waisai, W Papua (ANTARA News) - A total of 31 leatherback sea turtles, also known as the world`s explorer giant turtles, landed and laid eggs in Yenbekaki Village, Raja Ampat district in West Papua, throughout 2018.

The turtle conservation activist group in Yenbekaki village stated here on Monday that in May 2018, eight leatherback sea turtles landed and laid eggs in the coastal area of Warebar in Yenbekaki.

"Then, there were five leatherback sea turtles that landed and laid their eggs here in June. There were eight turtles in July, three turtles in August, three turtles in September, and four turtles in October, resulting in a total of 31 giant turtles that landed and laid eggs in Yenbekaki village," Yusuf Mayor, Head of turtle conservation activist group, stated in Yenbekaki village.

Mayor explained that those 31 leatherback sea turtles landed and laid as many as 3,706 eggs in the coastal area of Warebar in Yebenkaki village throughout 2018.

He further explained that he turtle conservation activists in Yebenkaki village have been guarding the coastal area of Warebar, a place where some giant sea turtles nest, from predators preying on turtle eggs.

Mayor also mentioned that out of the total of 3,706 leatherback turtle eggs laid at the coastal area of Warebar, some 1,000 eggs damaged and some 2,706 eggs hatched, and the hatchlings were successfully released into the sea.

Before being released into the sea, the hatchlings are kept in the conservation for about two weeks, so that they become strong enough to swim and avoid the attack of predator while on their way to the sea.

"The turtle conservation activists in Yenbekaki village of Raja Ampat district throughout 2018 have managed to release 2,706 giant turtle hatchlings into the sea," Mayor noted.
Editor: Azizah Fitriyanti