Head of the national park Ben G. Saroy here on Friday urged the people living in the coastal areas of the national park to continue to preserve the habitat of these turtles.
Of the six species of sea turtles living in the TNTC area, the largest population inhabits Wairundi Island located in the northeast of Manokwari South district, West Papua province.
The office is undertaking efforts to make this island a nesting habitat. Sea turtles are also easily found in the waters around Kumbur Island and Umar Bay in Nabire district, Papua province, as well as in Auri Island, Teluk Wondama district, West Papua province.
"The largest population is living in Wairundi. We hope the community and all parties participate in preserving this natural wealth," Saroy emphasized.
He pointed out that the poaching of mother turtles and their eggs continues unabated in this region.
"People who have been preserving the turtles feel a sense of dismay, and they are very angry," he affirmed.
TNTC is representative of the coral reef ecosystems, beaches, mangroves, and tropical forests on Papua Island.
It is the largest marine national park in Indonesia comprising 0.9 percent land and coastal areas, 3.8 percent mainland islands, 5.5 percent coral reefs, and 89.8 percent ocean waters.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
