The Rector of UGM, Professor Ova Emilia, MD, and the Manager of Alas Purwo National Park, Novita Kusumawardani, released 60 sea turtle hatchlings at Trianggulasi Beach, within the Alas Purwo National Park area on Saturday (29/7).
The release comprised 40 olive ridley turtles and 20 green turtles. It is part of the ongoing efforts to conserve and protect rare and endangered turtles in Indonesia.
During the event, the rector stated that the release of the sea turtles, in collaboration with Alas Purwo National Park, aims to preserve the natural ecosystem by conserving the rare turtle species that inhabit the region near the national park.
“Our mission is to strengthen the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) program with a focus on sustainability. We all share the responsibility of upholding sustainability to maintain the ecological balance by preserving the habitats,” said the rector.
The symbolic release of the hatchlings marks a collaboration between UGM and the National Park Conservation Center to enhance developments in education and research.
Manager Kusumawardani of Alas Purwo National Park expressed hopes for further productive cooperation in empowering and conserving wildlife.
She highlighted the significance of support from academic institutions in preserving flora and fauna within Alas Purwo National Park.
“We look forward to continued support from academics to advance the preservation efforts of the national park, particularly in research and education activities, as preserving the park is a collective responsibility,” the manager said.
Head of the Alas Purwo National Park Management in Muncar, Noviani Utami, added that releasing the hatchlings into the open sea is a regular activity conducted by the Alas Purwo National Park management.
Furthermore, the park also organizes releases for visitors to educate them about the importance of conserving protected species.
“Releasing the hatchlings is part of our turtle conservation efforts, as we aim to raise awareness among the local community to protect and preserve the turtles within the national park,” said the head.
She explained that turtle conservation activities have been ongoing since the 1980s, which include rescuing turtle nests and releasing hatchlings into the open sea. The efforts involve nightly patrols to locate turtle nests, which are then relocated to turtle hatcheries in the Ngagelan coastal area.
“Our nightly patrols cover approximately 18.5 kilometers along the coast,” she said.
Utami also mentioned that they often find adult turtles, which they tag with identification information from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Alas Purwo National Park Authority, and individual turtle numbers.
This tagging system enables tracking if the turtles re-land in Indonesian waters or are spotted in other parts of the world, contributing to their conservation efforts.
The head revealed that four of the six turtle species that have landed on Indonesian beaches are present in Alas Purwo: green turtles, hawksbill turtles, leatherback turtles, and olive ridley turtles. They have protected approximately 1,500 turtle nests from natural threats throughout the year.
“Around 80 percent of the hatched eggs at the Ngagelan turtle hatchery will be released into the wild, while a smaller portion will be used for educational purposes,” she explained.
This event symbolizes the commitment of UGM and Alas Purwo National Park to contribute to conservation and safeguard the survival of Indonesia’s precious sea turtle species.
Author: Gusti Grehenson
Photographer: Firsto