This Leatherback Turtle Is Trapped by Fishermen, Wants to Be Saved, Even Disappears. How come?
by Ebed de Rosary [Sikka NTT] and Jay Fajar on June 1, 2018
A leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), a type of giant turtle and the only species from the tribe Dermochelyidae that is still alive, was netted by fishermen in Ipir Village, Bola District, Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) this afternoon.
The leatherback turtle or Sea turtle as it is locally called the giant turtle, sack or mabo after being found by fishermen, was brought ashore and placed on the side of the main road in deplorable conditions. There were wounds in his mouth and blood was seen pouring out.
“When crossing this road and going to the city of Maumere Pain, the other day we saw the turtle. The residents we asked said these turtles had been placed by the side of the road since noon,” said Oss Rebong, a resident to Mongabay Indonesia, on Thursday (May 31, 2018).
Oss said, together with the sovereign, he asked who the fishermen had caught him and suggested that this rare animal should be released back into the sea. However, residents said the owner of the turtle was not there and did not know its whereabouts.
“Because we were in a rush to go to Maumere, after capturing the turtle and posting it on Facebook, my friends and I continued our journey. We suggested that the turtle should be released back into the sea, but the residents argued that the owner was not there,” he said.
read: Sad .. These two giant leatherback turtles are stressed and injured by fishermen. How did it end?
The leatherback turtle caught by fishermen from Ipir village, Bola sub-district, Sikka district, NTT on Sunday (May 27, 2018) afternoon was displayed on the side of the road. Photo : Oss Rebong/Mongabay Indonesia
The majority of the attacks of blackness had difficulty breathing and became a spectacle for local residents and passing motorists.
“There was blood coming out of his mouth and visible scars on his mouth. The turtle looks very scared because it is surrounded by many people, “Oss explained.
Society Chooses Silence
When met by Mongabay Indonesia at his office, Agustinus Djami Koreh, Head of the Region IV Conservation Section at the Central KSDA, said that his party received information from social media on Monday (May 28) morning.
Then it is directly programmed and sent to the location to ensure the correctness of the brief information.
“The community can work in a separate way and we don’t know why. We got confirmation about some of the providing information about the community and several people approached, including village officials, all admitted that they did not know the existence of these turtles,” he said.
When asked, continued Agustinus, the fishermen in the area where the turtle was displayed said they did not know the existence of this turtle. Although at that location there are signs resembling turtles and there are traces of excrement.
read: Research: Leatherback turtle nests in West Papua destroyed 78% in three decades
The BKSDA officer for Region IX in NTT is showing a photo of the leatherback turtle caught by fishermen from Ipir village, Bola sub-district and asking where it is. Photo: Board of Directors Region IV NTT/Mongabay Indonesia
“Several village officials and fishermen who were in the vicinity of the turtle location were put down when questioned and admitted that they did not know who the hood was and whether the turtle had been released or killed,” he regretted.
The BKSDA plays the letter that Agustinus is only a member of socialization and is believed to be related to the short-term inability to continue moving but also to village officials regarding protected marine animals.
Several fishermen who were tried to be questioned by Mongabay Indonesia also admitted that they did not know the whereabouts of the leatherback turtle, including village officials. It can be seen that the community seems to be hiding information and is afraid so they don’t reject member information.
Activate Socialization
The lack of socialization and understanding of the community could be one of the reasons why marine animals that are protected and netted in the trawl nets of sepyu fishermen and sharks are traded and even consumed by the people of Sikkat district.
Agustinus said that the NTT BKSDA region IX with the working areas of 4 regencies namely Sikka, East Flores, Lembata and Alor, will return to socializing and educating fishermen and the public regarding unprotected marine animals.
“Perhaps it could be because of the fishermen’s ignorance, but we often work together with the Sikka District Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Service together with NGOs to educate and socialize the community,” the socialization includes outreach via .
Agustinus admitted that he did not know whether the people did not know that the turtles were protected or whether they knew and deliberately sold or consumed them.
A leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), a type of giant turtle and the only species from the tribe Dermochelyidae that is still alive, was netted by fishermen in Ipir Village, Bola District, Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) this afternoon.
The leatherback turtle or Sea turtle as it is locally called the giant turtle, sack or mabo after being found by fishermen, was brought ashore and placed on the side of the main road in deplorable conditions. There were wounds in his mouth and blood was seen pouring out.
“When crossing this road and going to the city of Maumere Pain, the other day we saw the turtle. The residents we asked said these turtles had been placed by the side of the road since noon,” said Oss Rebong, a resident to Mongabay Indonesia, on Thursday (May 31, 2018).
Oss said, together with the sovereign, he asked who the fishermen had caught him and suggested that this rare animal should be released back into the sea. However, residents said the owner of the turtle was not there and did not know its whereabouts.
“Because we were in a rush to go to Maumere, after capturing the turtle and posting it on Facebook, my friends and I continued our journey. We suggested that the turtle should be released back into the sea, but the residents argued that the owner was not there,” he said.
read: Sad .. These two giant leatherback turtles are stressed and injured by fishermen. How did it end?
The leatherback turtle caught by fishermen from Ipir village, Bola sub-district, Sikka district, NTT on Sunday (May 27, 2018) afternoon was displayed on the side of the road. Photo : Oss Rebong/Mongabay Indonesia
The majority of the attacks of blackness had difficulty breathing and became a spectacle for local residents and passing motorists.
“There was blood coming out of his mouth and visible scars on his mouth. The turtle looks very scared because it is surrounded by many people, “Oss explained.
Society Chooses Silence
When met by Mongabay Indonesia at his office, Agustinus Djami Koreh, Head of the Region IV Conservation Section at the Central KSDA, said that his party received information from social media on Monday (May 28) morning.
Then it is directly programmed and sent to the location to ensure the correctness of the brief information.
“The community can work in a separate way and we don’t know why. We got confirmation about some of the providing information about the community and several people approached, including village officials, all admitted that they did not know the existence of these turtles,” he said.
When asked, continued Agustinus, the fishermen in the area where the turtle was displayed said they did not know the existence of this turtle. Although at that location there are signs resembling turtles and there are traces of excrement.
read: Research: Leatherback turtle nests in West Papua destroyed 78% in three decades
The BKSDA officer for Region IX in NTT is showing a photo of the leatherback turtle caught by fishermen from Ipir village, Bola sub-district and asking where it is. Photo: Board of Directors Region IV NTT/Mongabay Indonesia
“Several village officials and fishermen who were in the vicinity of the turtle location were put down when questioned and admitted that they did not know who the hood was and whether the turtle had been released or killed,” he regretted.
The BKSDA plays the letter that Agustinus is only a member of socialization and is believed to be related to the short-term inability to continue moving but also to village officials regarding protected marine animals.
Several fishermen who were tried to be questioned by Mongabay Indonesia also admitted that they did not know the whereabouts of the leatherback turtle, including village officials. It can be seen that the community seems to be hiding information and is afraid so they don’t reject member information.
Activate Socialization
The lack of socialization and understanding of the community could be one of the reasons why marine animals that are protected and netted in the trawl nets of sepyu fishermen and sharks are traded and even consumed by the people of Sikkat district.
Agustinus said that the NTT BKSDA region IX with the working areas of 4 regencies namely Sikka, East Flores, Lembata and Alor, will return to socializing and educating fishermen and the public regarding unprotected marine animals.
“Perhaps it could be because of the fishermen’s ignorance, but we often work together with the Sikka District Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Service together with NGOs to educate and socialize the community,” the socialization includes outreach via .
Agustinus admitted that he did not know whether the people did not know that the turtles were protected or whether they knew and deliberately sold or consumed them.