A baby turtle is released at a beach in Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia. (Photo: STAFF/Reuters)Hanoi (VNA) - More than 10,000baby turtles were recently released into the sea off the Indonesian island ofBali, as part of conservationists’ attempts to boost the population of thisvulnerable species and promote environmental protection.
Conservation groups on August 7 carriedcrates of tiny turtles to the island’s Gianyar beach and encouraged localpeople and volunteers to line up on the sand and release the hatchlings together.
The Olive Ridley turtles are among the mostabundant sea turtles but are still considered vulnerable because there are fewplaces in which they will nest. The turtles typically weigh 34-50kg as an adultand grow to 60-70cm long.
Sea turtle populations have declined inrecent years due to hunting, loss of beach nesting sites, over-harvesting oftheir eggs and being caught in fishing gear.
Earlier on August 5, Bali authoritiesreleased 25 of the larger green turtles into the sea after their rescue fromillegal traffickers.
Agus Budi Santoso, head of the Bali NaturalResources and Conservation Centre, recommended creating a “green zone” ofdesignated beaches for turtles to lay eggs safely./.
VNA
