Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TANJUNG BENOA AND THE TURTLE TRADE
Indonesia is one of the world's most important countries for
marine turtles
and home to
six out of the seven marine turtle species, all endangered due to the destruction of habitat
and
nesting sites
, illegal trade and accidental capture by fishing nets. Female turtles only
lay eggs on the beaches where they were born; on Bali these include those at
Kuta
,
Sanur
,
Nusa Dua
,
Tanjung Benoa
,
Jimbaran
and
Pemuteran
. All of these have been affected
by tourist development; turtles will not come ashore if there's too much light or noise, and
hatchlings can get confused by the bright lights and head inshore rather than out to sea.
Traditionally, turtles were slaughtered on Bali for human consumption and religious sac-
rifice. It is estimated that between 1969 and 1999
thirty thousand turtles
per year were
landed in Tanjung Benoa, plunging the population into severe decline. However, in 1999
Indonesia implemented a
turtle trade ban
amid threats of a tourism boycott of Bali and
in 2005 the Hindu Dharma Council of Indonesia decreed that substitutes could be used for
any endangered species in religious rituals.
The change in attitudes means that neiher turtle flesh nor products are offered anymore in
Tanjung Benoa. Some say the trade has just shifted
underground
; in January 2013 local
newspapers reported illegal trading of animals poached elsewhere in Indonesia such as
Kalimantan. It's certainly a profitable business; a single turtle can fetch up to $600.
Several groups have established
turtle hatcheries
on Bali and Lombok, including on
Kuta Beach, at
Reef Seen Aquatics
in Pemuteran and on the Gili Islands. For further in-
formation and to support
conservation efforts
contact Turtle Foundation (
turtle-found-
ation.org
)
, ProFauna Indonesia in Denpasar ( 0361 808 5800,
profauna.org
) and the
Jakarta branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature ( 021 576 1065,
wwf.or.id
).
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION: NUSA DUA AND TANJUNG BENOA
By taxi
If you've splurged on a few nights' luxury here you're unlikely to be hauling your
bags on a bemo or bus - a prepaid taxi from the
airport
costs Rp125,000, or expect to pay
around Rp100,000 in a metred taxi from Kuta.
By pick-up
Most hotels will offer pick-up from (and travel to) the airport for about
Rp130,000-150,000.
Banks and exchange
ATMs are on Jl Pratama in Tanjung Benoa. Big hotels offer exchange.
Hospitals and clinics
All Nusa Dua hotels provide 24hr medical service; there are also
expat-
oriented clinics
near Kuta and
hospitals
in Denpasar.
GETTING AROUND
The resorts, restaurants and shops are strung over some 6km from the northern tip of Tanjung
Benoa to southern Nusa Dua, so getting around can be a hot business.