There is a towing view on the car free day, Renon, Sunday morning (02/01). This is because the Profauna Indonesia organization, the Indonesian Turtle Foundation (YPI), the Turtle Foundation and Too Rare to Wear held a campaign action titled ‘Cool without Scales’.
Dozens of people followed this campaign enthusiastically. They brought posters with inscriptions written to care about the preservation of fauna and the sustainability of hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata).
“In addition to encouraging community participation, we will also encourage and partner with law enforcement officials to deal with the illegal trade of products containing hawksbill,” said Muhammad Jayuli (25), Campaigner of the Cool Without Scales Campaign.
This type of turtle is a sponge eater on coral reefs, allowing coral colonies and coral reefs to be healthy. In fact, turtle eggs that fail to hatch in their nests provide a supply of nutrients in the surrounding sand environment.
However, now the existence of hawksbill turtles began to be threatened due to illegal capture with mere economic motives. In Indonesia, hawksbill sea turtles are often used as the main material in craft accessories such as rings, bracelets, necklaces and other accessories.
Furthermore, it is reported that trade in products containing hawksbill carapace (Eretmochelys imbricata) in Indonesia is still high, with an estimated economic value of around Rp. 5 billion.In fact, Hawksbill turtles have entered species protected by law.
This means that his arrest or trafficking, both in living conditions and body parts such as scales, is prohibited.According to Law number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and their Ecosystems, trade in protected animals such as turtles is punishable by 5 years in prison and a fine of Rp. 100 million.
“The form of support from the public for this movement is by not buying hawksbill products which are still widely sold in several regions and reporting illegal activities related to the sale of accessories and other things that contain hawksbill,” said Jayuli.He stated, this national-scale campaign that will continue going forward. “Hopefully the community will start to realize and care about the survival of endangered animals, especially hawksbill sea turtles,” he hoped.”In addition to the weak law enforcement factors, the cause of the rampant trade in products containing hawksbill turtles is due to the low awareness of the people who are still buying the product,” he said
He said, the latest investigation by the Indonesian Profauna team revealed the fact that illegal trade of hawksbill turtles still occurred in Bali, Nias, North Sumatra and also sold online.
“During August to September 2019, the team surveyed eleven online platforms to find out the trade in sea turtles. scale”The eleven platforms surveyed are Facebook, Instagram, Shoppe, Tokopedia, Bukalapak, Carousell, Prelo, Kaskus, Belanjaqu, Blogspot and website.
The result was found 1574 advertisements and 199 accounts related to the online trade of hawksbill turtles.”The price of the product containing hawksbill turtles is offered at various prices, ranging from Rp. 15,000 for a simple ring, up to millions of rupiah for hand fans,” he said. After an investigative effort in Bali, 22 stores were still selling green turtle accessories in the Sukawati area, “he explained. (KR14)
