Sea turtles

Sea turtle warriors patrol the beaches of Lembata Island in Flores twice a day to make sure that turtles can lay their eggs safely. If necessary, the team buries the eggs in another place where poachers cannot find them. The volunteers also monitor nests, collect information and clean the beaches.
Sea turtles are used for consumption and trade. Criminals plunder beaches and fish seas. Sea turtles are a luxury item used for certain ceremonies, and jewelry is made from the shields. To soak the shield loose, hot boiling water is poured over the living animals. Sea turtles are now critically endangered.
Another danger are local organizations that take the eggs from the beach and hatch them in a concrete container. In exchange for a few euros, tourists are allowed to release the so-called rescued turtles by the sea. The holiday makers get the idea that they support a good cause: thanks to their donation, the organization can continue to do a good job. But turtles that do not crawl out of their eggs on the beach miss the opportunity to make their natural way to the sea. Their first instinct of life has been taken away by this, and that’s something that cannot be restored later.
Six species
The turtle warriors identify six different types of turtles:
- Green turtle
- Hawksbill turtle
- Olive Ridley
- Leatherback Sea turtle
- Flatback sea turtle
- Loggerhead sea turtle
To improve the future of the sea turtle, our volunteers teach in schools, companies and other institutions. This way, more and more Indonesians are learning the right approach to deal with nature. Plastic is still being used a lot: straws, bags, cups and so on. Everything ends up in the sea. Indonesians are poorly aware of those consequences.
That is why we provide them with the most important words of the English language in addition to awareness. Such as "recycle": you must know what it means before you can do it. By learning the basics of English, islanders gain confidence to do something.