U.S. Helps Fund Program to Protect Endangered Sea Turtles in Papua

June 22, 2007

Bahasa Indonesia

MANOKWARI, Papua: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gave a $40,000 grant to help fund a program by the Marine Laboratory at the State University of Papua in Manokwari to study and protect the endangered Pacific Leatherback sea turtle.  The grant will fund research to monitor the turtles’ nesting status and hatchling production, evaluate threats and engage local communities in the effort to preserve and protect the species. 

The Marine Laboratory is working in cooperation with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Nature Conservation Agency and Forestry Department in Papua, and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to study the turtles and protect two of their largest remaining nesting grounds, located on the Bird’s Head Peninsula in Papua. 

The Pacific Leatherback sea turtle is the world’s largest living turtle and has been around for millions of years. While these sea turtles migrate across the length of the Pacific Ocean, the majority lay their eggs in specific nesting grounds throughout Southeast Asia.  The species’ numbers have dropped by 90% in recent years due to habitat loss and hunting, making the Pacific Leatherback sea turtle one of the world’s most endangered animals.  The Jamursba Medi and Wermon beaches in Papua are among the last promising nesting beaches for Leatherbacks in the region. 

For more information on efforts to protect the Pacific Leatherback sea turtle, contact Dr. RF Tapilatu of the Marine Laboratory at the State University of Papua (www.unipa.ac.id).

Link to photos:

• Sea Turtle protection program in Papua-Hatchlings Emergence

• Sea Turtle protection program in Papua-Students with Hatching success

• Sea Turtle protection program in Papua-Adult Female Leatherback

(Photo by Prof. RF. Tapilatu, Marine Laboratory at the State University of Papua )
 

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