Babel Police Failed Smuggling Of 2,287 Hawksbill Turtle Eggs, BKSDA Asks For Maximum Punishment

Thousands of hawksbill turtle eggs confiscated by the Bangka Belitung Islands Regional Police/ANTARA

BABEL - The Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) of South Sumatra appreciates the Regional Police of the Bangka Belitung Islands Province for revealing the theft case and confiscating thousands of hawksbill eggs on Gelasa Island, Central Bangka Regency.

"We hope that the perpetrators of the hawksbill egg theft will be punished, which will have a deterrent effect," said Head of the South Sumatra BKSDA Conservation Resort XVII Fadli in Pangkalpinang, Antara, Friday, June 10.

He emphasized that the hawksbill turtle is an animal protected by the government and this is based on Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems.

"Currently, the existence of this hawksbill turtle is starting to be endangered because of egg theft and illegal hunting of turtles which are quite rampant," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of ALOBI Foundation Bangka Belitung Langka Sani said this hawksbill turtle has become rare due to poaching.

"Thousands of turtle eggs resulting from this crime will be hatched at PT Timah Tbk's Bangka Island Outdoor (BIO) so that the turtle population as protected animals can be maintained," he said.

The Head of Public Relations of the Bangka Belitung Islands Police, Kombes A. Maladi, confirmed that his party managed to thwart the smuggling attempt of 2,287 turtle eggs.

"It's true, earlier we received information from the Ditpolair Polda Babel that the perpetrator with the initials Jo (36) from Batu Beriga Village along with 2,287 turtle eggs was allegedly taken by the perpetrators in the waters of Gelasa Island, Central Bangka," he said.