 Green Turtles Are Endangered
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June 27, 2003 — Police on the Indonesian island of Bali said Friday they have arrested five poachers and rescued 120 endangered green turtles, which they were planning to sell.
The five, from Madura Island off eastern Java, were arrested on Thursday in Benoa harbor, Bali police spokeswoman Pangasihan Gaut said.
"We have received complaints from overseas groups who want us to crack down on the poaching of endangered species," she told AFP.
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The five have confessed they had wanted to sell the turtles to a local dealer. They face a maximum sentence of five years in jail and a fine of 100 million rupiah ($12,200) if convicted.
The turtles were immediately released into the sea.
The Jakarta Post on Friday quoted a conservation group, Profauna, as saying that trading of endangered turtles was rife in Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province.
Profauna said its investigation revealed that Makassar was one of the main centers for trading of turtles. Endangered turtles are not only caught in Sulawesi waters but also in waters off Nusa Tenggara and the Malukus.
Souvenirs made from shells — such as rings, bracelets and turtle shells — can easily be found at the local airport, the conservation group said, adding that traders also sold turtle shells to Java island.
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Name: Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Primary Classification: Chelonia (Tortoises and Turtles) Location: Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Habitat: Tropical and subtropical waters. Diet: Seagrass, mangrove roots, leaves, and algae. Size: Up to 4 ft in length and 660 lbs in weight. Description: Olive-brown to black carapace, or shell; small head; smooth, shield-shaped shell; powerful, paddle-like limbs. Cool Facts: It travels from several hundred to over a thousand miles to breed at the same location at which it hatched. Conservation Status: Endangered Major Threats: Commercial fishing, loss of nesting sites and egg poaching. What Can I Do?: Visit the Sea Turtle Restoration Project and the Greenpeace Foundation for information on how you can help. |
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