Balinese rituals fuel spike in trafficking of endangered sea turtles
For the Balinese, turtle meat has long been a delicacy as well as playing a central role in religious ceremonies, making the Hindu-majority island Indonesia’s leading consumer of sea turtles. Demand is overwhelmingly for green turtles (Chelonia mydas), since unlike other sea turtle species, green turtles are not carnivorous, eating mainly sea grass, making their meat less fishy. Once Bali’s high priests and local politicians had been alerted to the problem, consumption of turtle meat in ceremonies dropped dramatically but a recent series of busts seem to indicate a significant surge in turtle smuggling to the island. Click the article link to read more…
The Too Rare to Wear report is out, Conservation, read the findings about the use of Eretmochelys imbricata.
Turtle News From Around the World
Conservation
USA:- How you can become a ‘citizen scientist’ and excavate sea turtle nests
USA:- Keepers work to save the world’s rarest tortoise: video
USA:- Coming out of their shell: Marco’s ‘Turtle Lady’ works to protect endangered Caretta caretta
USA:- The Report Is In: 30 Percent of Shops in Nine Countries Include Endangered Turtleshell Gifts
Crime & Punishment
Greece:- Illegal landfill in the sea turtle National Marine Park of Zakynthos island opens again
India:- 2 Kasaragod-men arrested for capturing and cooking turtle
Ecology
Sri Lanka:- Largest Geochelone elegans found in Lunugamvehera
Australia:- Native turtles under threat in Perth’s Hyde Park, infants missing: video
Education
USA:- Sea Turtle watch program reservations for June
Health & Medical
USA:- Turtle Patrol Saves Stranded Caretta caretta
Philippines:- DENR returns two turtles to sea in Northern Samar
Miscellany
Nevis:- Four Seasons Resort Nevis and Sea Turtle Conservancy Celebrate 11th Annual Sea Turtle Conservation Weekend, July 14-17, 2017
USA:- Local artists work to save Western Pond Turtle
Question or Concerns? Want to submit an article to get posted? Email us at [email protected].
Photo from Rhett A. Butler.
