Bali Online Information |The Struggle to Save Bali 's turtles1

The Struggle to Save Bali 's turtles

By Degung Santikarma and Andre Syahreza

At a banjar (village) meeting hall in Kesima-n, south Bali a group of men are whiling away the cool evening hours in front of a tiny black and white TV set. As the programing shifts from national news and celebrity gossip to a local talk show, the men grow more intererested. Tonight's subject is turtles and how Balinese can help stop the slaughter of their dwindling population. The environmental activists appearing on the show explain that the six sea turtle species found in Ind onesia n waters are now endangered, and that if killing and consumtion of turtles continue at the present pace, in a few years there will be none left at all.

But the men I the banjar aren't buying it. “Come on , don't tell me you don't like turtle satay with a little chili and salt?” one man taunts the televisions guests. “Why should we let those foeigners from those environmental organizations tell us what can and can't eat?” grumbles another man.

Rituals and Tourist

Attempts to stop the slaughter and sale of the green sea turtle ( Chelonia mydas) have led to perhaps the most intense debates over the relantionship between human interest and ecological concerns in Bali . Especially in south Bali , where economic and ritual life revolve around the sea, green turtle meat has been used for centuries as part of religious and community events. Turtles – along with a host of other land and sea life – have also been used for sacrifices to the gods in Bali nese Hindu rituals.

But in the 1970s, with the rise of mass tourism, Bali 's turtle population began to shrink drastically. Not only were turtle shells sold as souvenirs, turtle soup became a highlight of many hotel menus. Beaches that had been the turtles' nesting grounds were occupied by

environmental activists appearing

local conservation organisations

turtle trading takes