SOS-Seaturtle Bali

Your Honour Drs. I Dewa Made Beratha

I m very much concerned how the endangered sea turtles are treated in your country. Until four years ago on Bali alone, an average of twenty thousand sea turtles per year were brutally cut out of their tortoiseshell alive! As a result of several action by the Bali Police and campaigns by Indonesian as well as European animal welfare organizations, this number has fortunately dropped to around three thousand a year. However, in view of the sea turtles being threatened with extinction, all possible action has to be undertaken to stop this cruel and barbaric habit for ever!

Almost any of the European Travel, Diving or Nature related Magazine and Newspapers have published articles with horrible pictures taken in the slaughterhouses of Tanjung-Benoa. As a result of such reports numerousness active travellers, my self as well, has decided not visit the Island of Bali until the slaughtering will be stopped. Next to the damage on the environment, this killing is also illegal against the Indonesian Government decree No 7 /1999 and the trade of turtle products by CITES regulations.

I believe that the still existing sea turtle trade is not a good promotion for your country and Bali, which is a beautiful Island with friendly people and excellent hospitality. It isn't worth to risk Bali's image because of a group corrupt and insensible people from Tanjung-Benoa, who decimate one of the oldest inhabitants of the Oceans for their own profit ? I hope that this situation in Bali becomes under control and the turtle killing will be stopped as soon as possible.