Ten Sea Turtles Released Into Indian Ocean

PADANG, W Sumatera, March 23 (Antara) - Ten green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) that were trapped in a sewerage of a steam power plant, now have been released into the Indian Ocean of West Sumatra on Thursday. Previously, some of those turtles were trapped in the gutter of the Teluk Sirih Steam Power Plant that is located about 190 meters from the sea. Fortunately, some rescuers had saved them, Deputy Governor of West Sumatra Nasrul Abid noted here on Thursday. Other turtles were trapped in the fishermen's net and had injuries. The rescue team had rescued and took care of them. Each of the ten sea turtles has an average weight of 30-110 kilograms and a length of 30 to 70 centimeters. "This is the first time for the conservation teams to work together to save turtles, as we used to work individually," West Sumatra's Head of Maritime and Fisheries Department Yosmeri noted. The joint team would be maintained to work under the Governor's Decree on Turtle's Conservation, in which they would not only save trapped or wounded sea turtles, but could also seize turtle's eggs from poachers to be hatched after which the baby turtles will be released into the sea. The green sea turtles and hawksbill sea turtles are classified as endangered and are protected by the Indonesian Conservation Law.