Atlantik Himasper IPB Conserves Sea Turtles Through The Ecobiology Expedition Movement
Twenty-two students of Department of Living Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Bogor Agricultural University (MSP FPIK IPB) held a Sea Turtle Ecobiology Expedition in Cikepuh Wildlife Reserve, Sukabumi (23-29/8). The participants came from The Study Group and Observer of Aquatic Environment (Atlantik), that is under the supervision of the Water Resource Management Student Association (Himasper) MSP FPIK IPB. The long journey was taken to reach the observation area, which was Citirem and Hujungan Beach, which located in the Cikepuh Sukabumi Wildlife Reserve Area.
The Sea Turtle Ecobiology Expedition has begun since 2014. This expedition was done to monitor and analyze the ecobiology and the management of the sea turtle conservation area in Citirem and Hujungan Beach. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), the existence of green sea turtle was endangered. In the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the sea turtle was categorized in Appendix I, which means that it was prohibited from traded internationally.
The population of sea turtles is dwindling due to egg theft, habitat damage, and predator attacks. In accordance with that, the series of events that were done during the expedition was the observation of physical condition, beach biology, sea turtle morphometrics, and also an interview with the local people.
Aside of that, socialization to the locals about the importance of keeping the existence of sea turtle was also done during the interview process. What can be done by the locals are guarding the sea turtle's eggs until they hatch and are able to go to their natural habitats. By doing that, the preservation of green sea turtle may be able to keep the sustainability of the sea ecosystem.
"The observation was done every day. But we just found out that sea turtle went to the shoreline to lay eggs on August 28th. There were 88 eggs found from one parent sea turtle. Then, we found the sea turtle back the next day. The discovery of sea turtle this year is less in number compared to last year's. We only found sea turtle in Hunjungan Beach," said one of the participants of The Sea Turtle Ecobiology Expedition V, M. Sultan Ritonga.
"The result of this expedition will be shown at the seminar in Festival Air event that will be conducted in November by Himasper IPB. The seminar will discuss the observation result and everything that we have been through during the expedition, starting from our arrival in the Wildlife Reserve to the eggs theft raid," he added. (CN)
