Green turtles released back to the waters by Newmont and Marine Police

93 live endangered green turtles had been saved from KM Alam Indah and released back to Benete Bay waters, by Marine Police in cooperation with PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (PTNNT) Marine Patrol on Thursday, 11 April 2002 at 09:00 local time.

The boat heading to Benoa-Bali was busted in Senutuk Bay when marine patrol performed its routine patrol. The boat and her five crews from Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), have been held a custody at Maluk Police station for further investigation.

PTNNT Environment General Supervisor, Tony Gultom, said this is the second arrest held in waters adjacent to PTNNT mine area. The first one was made about a year ago with 19 turtles. "Just like last year, we release these large turtles back to sea after we tag them for monitoring purpose," said Tony. The tags were issued by South East Asia Fisheries Department Cooperation (SEADEC).

This process has also been reported to the government (Directorate of Natural Resources Conservation/KSDA) of NTB. "Most of these 93 turtles are female of approximately 15 to 80 years old," he added. Among them, PTNNT's environmental team found one turtle with a tag from Malaysia. (robert)