Kategorie: News
The Turtle Foundation's commitment is having an impact
Their greatest enemy? Unfortunately, humans. In many countries, including Indonesia, turtle eggs are still considered a delicacy despite strict nature conservation laws. However, the Turtle Foundation's commitment is having an impact.
In the Berau region (East Kalimantan, Indonesia), the Foundation, together with the police in Biduk-Biduk, carried out a targeted strike against the poaching of turtle nests.
When the Turtle Foundation's ranger team noticed suspicious movements and a glow of light during a night patrol on one of the protected beaches, they gave chase. Two of the three perpetrators managed to escape, but the third – a known repeat offender – initially resisted, but was eventually apprehended with his loot and arrested by the police who had been called to the scene. He now faces trial for violating Indonesia's nature conservation law.
Unfortunately, the two fugitive perpetrators escaped with most of their loot from a total of 32 plundered nests – equivalent to around 3,200 eggs with a black market value of €4,760.
Nevertheless, this operation sends a strong signal: the protection of sea turtles is not just an empty declaration of intent – the Turtle Foundation is taking action, and its actions are having an impact.
Only with your help can the Turtle Foundation continue to achieve such successes in the future!
Whether through donations, sharing our message, or your personal interest, all of this gives us the strength and means to actively stand up for the protection of these fascinating animals.
https://www.turtle-foundation.org/spenden/
Turtle Foundation activities in Indonesia
The Turtle Foundation protects sea turtles in Indonesia, among other places. With over 17,000 islands, this Southeast Asian country is the largest island nation in the world. A unique biodiversity stretches along the border between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean – as if made for sea turtles. It is not only the famous Coral Triangle that attracts countless animals. In fact, six of the seven existing species inhabit Indonesian waters, with five nesting regularly on the beaches.
The beginnings of the Turtle Foundation
Compared to many countries, however, the protection of these impressive marine reptiles is still not particularly good here, even though sea turtles and their eggs were placed under protection in Indonesia as early as 1990. That is why the Turtle Foundation began its activities in Indonesia in 2000 to put an end to the systematic collection of eggs in Berau.
On site for sea turtle conservation
Since 2018, all Indonesian projects have been carried out by our local sister organization Yayasan Penyu Indonesia (Indonesian for “Turtle Foundation Indonesia,” or YPI for short).
Overview
Start of the program: 2000
Number of projects: 4
Species in focus: Green sea turtle, hawksbill turtle, leatherback turtle
YPI headquarters in Bali
A lot has happened since the local office was set up. The YPI headquarters in Bali now has staff in management, program direction, and financial administration, as well as a scientific director. With the help of a large organizational development project, for which funding has been approved until the end of March 2026, the foundation is currently working on professionalizing its structures and expanding its capacity for sea turtle conservation.
Projects
– Berau: Protection of green sea turtles in their largest nesting area in Indonesia
– Sumatra: Fight for the nesting grounds of the last leatherback turtles in the northeastern Indian Ocean
– Until the end of 2023: Banggai – Anti-tortoiseshell project to protect hawksbill sea turtles
– Nationwide: Education on the topic of “headstarting”
More information:
Turtle Foundation Website