Conservation Activists Try To Save Nigerian Sea Turtles From Pollution And Wild Hunters

JAKARTA - Plastic pollution, discarded fishing nets, and coastal construction have had a major impact on Nigerian sea turtles, conservation activists fighting to save them said.

"We witnessed a drastic decline," said Chinedu Mogbo, founder of the Greenfingers Wildlife Conservation Initiative, which has saved and released more than 70 turtles over the past five years after treating them in his turtle asylum.

At least five endangered or endangered species of sea turtles inhabit Nigerian waters, but the exact number is unknown and resources for monitoring are inadequate, said Mogbo whose team has rescued belimbing turtles to scaling turtles.

Much of its own funded group Mogbo has teamed up with local fishermen to save the animals.

"Nelayans need income. We offer net repair equipment in exchange for rescued turtles or protected nests," he told Reuters at the group's turtle asylum in the coastal city of Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital.

However, without a sea protected area and shrinking nesting sites, the coastline has become a trap for turtles, the Mogbo said, urging state authorities to do more to protect them.

Nigeria's Environmental Agency did not respond to requests for comment.

Additional threats for sea turtles come from high demand for meat, shells, and eggs in Nigeria, both for consumption and for traditional ritual purposes.

"We eat their eggs and sometimes give them to village elders for voodoo," said Morifat Hassan, who sells fish in the Folu coastal area on the outskirts of Lagos, adding the price reaches 90,000 naira (Rp1,001,132) per head.

In July, rescue teams rescued a large green turtle in the Folu area that was injured after being caught in a fishing net. They named it Moruf.

After negotiating with the fishermen who found Moruf, Mogbo managed to dispel those who tried to buy the injured turtles.

"Usually, this turtle will be slaughtered or sold, but we will intervene and will ensure it is returned safely to the sea," Mogbo explained while standing on the beach.