Sea turtles play a crucial role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems. As both predators and prey, they help control jellyfish populations and contribute to the balance of marine food webs. Their presence influences the abundance and distribution of various species, contributing to overall biodiversity.
The health and survival of sea turtles can serve as indicators of the overall health of marine environments. Their susceptibility to pollution, habitat degradation, and climate change reflects the broader challenges faced by ocean ecosystems. By monitoring and conserving sea turtle populations, scientists gain insights into the state of the oceans and potential threats to other marine species.
In the turtle conservation project in Lombok, we take care of injured turtles brought in by local fishermen, but we also have a hatchery and several tanks where a part of the baby turtles are trained before being released. We work closely together with the local community and local conservation experts, and report to the relevant Indonesian government agencies.
Although the project is relatively new, we are very proud of its success. This June alone, we were able to welcome over 1,200 hatchlings, of which most have been released into the ocean, whereas others will be trained in our centre before release.
