More than 10,000 baby turtles were released into the sea off the Indonesian island of Bali as part of conservationists¡¯ attempts to boost the population of a vulnerable species and promote environmental protection.
The Olive Ridley turtles are among the most abundant sea turtles, but are still considered vulnerable because there are few places where they nest.?
The turtles, which can grow to more than a metre (three feet) in length and weigh upwards of 300 kilograms (700 pounds), are under threat due to poaching and habitat destruction.?
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According to Reuters, their eggs are considered a delicacy and they are also slaughtered for their meat, skin and shells.?
Conservation groups carried crates each full of dozens of tiny turtles to the Indonesian island¡¯s Gianyar beach and encouraged local people and volunteers to line up on the sand and release the hatchlings together.
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¡°It¡¯s really exciting to see all of these turtles being released into the wild,¡± said American volunteer Jessica Lieberman, adding she hoped they would survive.
Flavianus Erwin Putranto, a conservation volunteer, said turtle eggs were appearing in fewer places on Bali than before, but programmes to help protect them were seeing success.
¡°We are able to collect and save them. Hopefully we can hatch more turtles and release them back into the ocean,¡± he said.
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Bali authorities released 25 of the larger green turtles into the sea on Wednesday after their rescue last month, during a raid on illegal traffickers. Marine officials carefully guided the giant reptiles as they thrashed their flippers in the sand to propel themselves toward the water.?
"Hopefully these 25 turtles will survive so that they can lay their eggs again," said Bali conservation agency chief, Agus Budi Santosa, adding that 11 others rescued at the time would be freed later.??
Agus Budi Santoso, head of the Bali Natural Resources and Conservation Center, recommended creating a ¡°green zone¡± of designated beaches for turtles to lay eggs safely, away from hotels and construction sites.??
ALL INPUTS REUTERS