Smuggling of 43 Green Turtles to Bali Foiled

DOC BKSDA BALI

JEMBRANA - The smuggling of 43 green turtles was thwarted by the Indonesian Navy (AL) in Klatakan Waters, Melaya, Jembrana Regency, Bali.

Head of the Conservation Section for Region I of the Bali Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), Sumarsono said the turtles were arrested on Thursday, January 12 evening.

"There are 43 of them. The location (capture) is in the waters of Klatakan Beach, Jembrana Regency. The turtles are all alive, (the turtles) are in two boats in the middle of the sea which are guarding TNI Navy officers", said Sumarsono, Friday, January 13.

The turtle carrier fled. There are only two Jukung boats containing dozens of turtles.

"When approached by the patrol it was empty, only the ship and the turtles were left. The position of the ship seemed to be heading ashore when it was ambushed by the Navy", he added.

Dozens of turtles are thought to have come from Madura, East Java, and will be marketed on the island of Bali for consumption.

Currently, tens of turtles are still at the Gilimanuk Posal office, Jembrana, Bali, and will be evacuated to a pond belonging to the Bali BKSDA."

The plan is to be evacuated to the BKSDA holding pool for health checks", he said.