Nesting Season Arrives on the South Coast, Buying and Selling Turtle Eggs is Still a Threat

Turtle nesting season has arrived on the southern coast of Java. Buying and selling turtle eggs is still a threat to the conservation of this animal.

ARSIP JUMAWAN

Members of the Nagaraja Cilacap Turtle Conservation Group put turtle eggs in the sand so they can hatch, Sunday (31/3/2024).

CILACAP, KOMPAS — The end of March to April 2024 has entered the nesting season for turtles in the south coastal area of Central Java, both in the Regency Cilacap and in Kebumen. At least 318 turtle eggs were evacuated to a safe place by three conservation groups on the south coast. Members of conservation groups have also started night patrols to look for turtle nesting nests. Buying and selling turtle eggs is still a threat to the conservation of this animal.

"We secured 91 turtle eggs on March 31 2024. This is a sign that the nesting season has entered for turtles," said the Coordinator of the Turtle Conservation Group Nagaraja Cilacap Jumawan when contacted from Purwokerto, Banyumas, Central Java, Saturday (20/4/2024).

Also read: Muji Arisno and Parjiman, Turtle Conservation Revives Beach Tourism in Kebumen

Jumawan stated that 91 turtle eggs were obtained from a middleman who sold turtle eggs to residents around Karangtawang Beach.

"We received reports from residents about the trade of turtle eggs. Four pieces were sold for Rp 10,000. Then, with the village officials there, we went to educate them that turtles are protected animals and should not be sold," he said.

ARSIP MUJI ARISNO

Information board at the turtle egg nest at the Integrated Twin Beach, Kebumen, Central Java, Saturday (20/4/2024).

Then, according to Jumawan, the turtle eggs that are going to be sold are taken to a conservation center around Sodong Beach to be incubated in sand for about 1.5 months so that they can later hatch. Upon this discovery, conservation team members then start patrolling or conducting night rounds along the beach to secure the turtles laying eggs.

"We usually start at 03.00 WIB, then walk or use a trail motorbike along the beach," said Jumawan.

Also read: Care for Turtles, Safeguard Life

As is known, in addition to the threats from fishermen or humans who lack education regarding protected species, turtle eggs are also often targeted by predators such as snakes and monitor lizards.

Conservation teams typically search for traces of turtles that come ashore, then dig the sand to lay their eggs. From these nests, turtle eggs are transferred to conservation centers to hatch and later released into the wild.

"Last year, we released 855 hatchlings or baby turtles. "It came from 14 nests," said Jumawan.

In addition to the threat from fishermen or humans who lack education about protected wildlife, turtle eggs are also often targeted by predators such as snakes and monitor lizards.

The Head of the Integrated Twin Beach Tourism in Kebumen, Muji Arisno, who also initiated a turtle conservation group, stated that his team has also evacuated 167 turtle eggs from two nests.

“Two turtle nests were found. "One nest contains 82 eggs and the second contains 85 eggs," said Muji.

WILIBRORDUS MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

Hundreds of hatchlings or young Olive Ridley turtles were released at Sodong Beach, Adipala, Cilacap, Central Java, Monday (14/9/2020).

Muji reported that the turtle eggs were found on Saturday (16/3/2024) and Thursday (4/4/2024). It is estimated that the turtle eggs will hatch on May 1st and May 20th, 2024. The turtle conservation group in Dukuh Kembar, Tambakmulyo Village, Puring District, Kebumen, saved 124 turtle eggs in 2020, and 47 of them successfully hatched.

Then, in 2021, there were 838 turtle eggs rescued and 403 hatched. In 2022, 934 eggs were secured, resulting in 573 hatches. In 2023, out of 1,909 secured eggs, 779 hatched.

In addition, from Kaliratu Beach in Kebumen, the Chairman of the Jogosimo Nature Preservation Group, Achmad Munadjat, stated that his group had secured one turtle nest with a total of 60 eggs.

"We found a turtle nest on Thursday. "There are a total of 60 eggs," said Munadjat.