Rescued Hawksbill Turtle in West Kalimantan Released to Protect Marine Ecosystem
- 23 Jul 2026 18:00 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Key Points
- The West Kalimantan Marine and Fisheries Agency, together with the Pontianak Marine Management Center and Sealife Indonesia Foundation, released a rehabilitated hawksbill turtle into northern Jungkat waters to support marine conservation.
- The hawksbill turtle, listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, faces threats from illegal wildlife trade, coral reef degradation, and accidental capture in fisheries.
RRI.CO.ID, Pontianak - Efforts to save this Critically Endangered marine species from extinction continue in West Kalimantan. The Marine and Fisheries Agency, together with a joint team, officially released the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) into northern Jungkat waters as a concrete step to protect the area’s marine ecosystem and biodiversity.
“The release was conducted by the West Kalimantan Provincial Administration through the Marine and Fisheries Agency together with the Pontianak Marine Management Center and the Sealife Indonesia Foundation,” said West Kalimantan Marine and Fisheries Agency Head, Natalia Karyawati, in a statement received in Pontianak on Thursday, 23 July 2026.
She said the release was a tangible measure to preserve the marine ecosystem while educating the public on the importance of conserving protected marine species.
“This hawksbill release is also an opportunity for education and a campaign to the public about how important it is to carry out marine conservation,” she added, as quoted by Antara.
The hawksbill turtle is listed as Critically Endangered on the Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and faces threats from illegal trade, coral reef degradation, and bycatch in fisheries. Protecting this species is a key part of safeguarding the sustainability of marine ecosystems and fisheries.
The turtle had been accidentally caught in fishers’ nets while they were fishing near Pulau Panjang, Kubu Raya, West Kalimantan on the night of 17 July. The fishers voluntarily handed the protected animal over to the Pontianak Marine Management Center.
At the same location, Head of Administration at the Pontianak Marine Management, Graziano Raymond, said the turtle was covered in barnacles when handed over. For that reason, it required treatment and rehabilitation before being returned to its natural habitat.
“After the handover, the protected animal was evacuated and rehabilitated under the supervision of a Sealife Indonesia veterinarian at Purnama Animal Clinic for several days before being released back into the sea,” he said.
Sealife Indonesia Veterinarian, Maulid Dio Sehendro, said the turtle underwent a series of health checks during rehabilitation. Examinations included vital signs, eye reflexes, jaw tone, physical inspection, and full‑body radiographic imaging.
Results showed no bone abnormalities, fractures, or digestive tract disorders. During four days of observation, the turtle’s condition steadily improved, with coordinated swimming patterns and positive feeding response.
“Over four days of observation, its condition showed a consistent improving trend. The combination of clear radiographic status, maintained food intake, and improving skin condition put this turtle on a promising recovery trajectory toward release,” he said.
Natalia emphasized that the hawksbill turtle is a protected species. She urged the public, especially fishers, to immediately release and report any protected marine organisms accidentally caught at sea.
The release was carried out using the Marine and Fisheries Agency patrol vessel BI'LAO 02 because Pontianak has no sandy beach. The team traveled about 1.5 hours from Rengas Fishing River Port to the release site. ***
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