Banyak Islands are one sub districts in Aceh Singkil. To reach the island Bengkaru, everyone should go Singkil first. The journey from Medan can be reached by public transport about 8 hours. There is also Nusa Air Buana that provides flights to Singkil, but only 2 times a week, Saturday and Monday morning. And all visitors are required to confirm in advance to the Yayasan Pulau Banyak (YPB).
In 2006, Maggie Muurmans, a turtle expert from the Netherlands and Mahmud Bengkaru revive Island Foundation Many who had suspended animation by the tsunami and conflict in Aceh Darussalam earth. With a rake in a few new coworkers and supported NGO Yayasan Eko Lestari (YEL), based in Medan and Paneco-one NGO based in Switzerland, they reactivate turtle conservation and ecotourism activities on the island Bengkaru.
The goal is not to maintain and preserve the lives of green turtles netted on the verge of extinction due to fishing, trade in turtle eggs, the consuming turtle meat, and the people who make the turtle as a decoration / souvenir. Not to mention the human activities that throwing garbage into the sea like a cork or plastic that can cause death if eaten by hatchlings (young turtles).
To prevent the extinction tersebutlah, this organization provides counseling to the community, hold workshops, meetings with community leaders to make education programs in schools to preserve the natural resources around. In addition they also provide a place for local and international students to do research on the island as a volunteer.
Going to the island turtle conservation is chargeable as including conservation areas. The cost is usually per package. Included in this package 3 days 2 nights stay, eat 3 meals a day, and shuttle transportation. Opportunity 3 days 2 nights is given for a chance to do the turtle patrol at night.
Turtles are usually stopped at this island green turtle, but when in season, hawksbill and leatherback turtles, called 'turtle ancestors' are also often stop by. One remarkable luck when you get to see this leatherback turtles.
Typically, patrol performed after dinner, around 8 pm. Shoes, flashlight, and jackets are mandatory equipment was taken. And that should not be forgotten, snacks and drinking water of course. If you forget to bring it, guaranteed waiting time was longer because you can do there is wait and wait.
When I arrived at Turtle Beach / coast Amandangan any flashlight should be turned off, because the turtles are very sensitive to light. They can imprison his intention to stop by if you see the light from the shore. If you're lucky enough, we could see up to 5 of 7 green turtles turtle stopover. When in season (November to March) can be done in 2 shifts patrol until morning.
Here also gives officers the opportunity to tagging. This tag bearing the number to facilitate data collection when the turtle was returned to the beach Amandangan. Tagging also provides information on the lowest limit of the population. This information will help protect sea turtles. Besides given the tagging, the turtle is also recorded, the measured length of width, how many turtles that the transit to the beach, what he did, and the number of eggs. For leatherback turtles, micro chip diimplant for easier identification in other countries such as Madagascar and India disinggahinya.
A green sea turtles can reach lengths of 80-90 cm by 70-80 cm wide. Another case with leatherback turtles can reach lengths of nearly 2 meters. Turtle in 1 period (2 weeks) can be stopped at the beach 4 to 6 times. Not at every stopover these turtles lay eggs, usually only 2 times a stopover. Turtles lay eggs after age 25 years and can lay eggs once spawned 100-150 eggs. Of the many eggs that hatch, not all survive. Ordinary tail that lasted only 2-3.
Many factors that cause hatchlings, hatchlings can not survive. Factor by human hands, natural factors, such as monitor lizards that eat hatchlings when walking to the beach, crabs that kill on the outskirts of the coast, grouper and shark who became predators in the sea, and also natural factors be the cause. Well, this is the function of officer of YPB-keeping hatchlings hatchlings leading to the coast from attack lizards, hawks or crab.
Usually the hatchlings hatch in the morning. In this Bengkaru you can see the hatchlings, hatchlings out of the nest, running a race towards the open sea. Interestingly, children these turtles are wild turtles, not from captivity. It's incredible scenery.
Editor: FAZARIS Tanti
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