TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Research by scientists from The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and partners have shown that population of hawksbill sea turtles in Solomon Islands have increased 200 percent since its lowest number in 1990s. Report of the research was recently published on PLOS ONE journal in April.
"Turtles are at 10 percent of their numbers they were at a century ago, and roughly only one out of every 1,000 turtle eggs make it to adulthood," said Richard Hamilton, Melanesia Program Director, The Nature Conservancy and lead author in a press release received by Tempo on Friday, May 22.
Researchers analyzed data from surveys and tagging of sturtles in Avarnon, Solomon Islands in 22 year period (1991-2012). The place have been made into turtles’ protection area in 1995 which then followed by ban on turtle export. Since then, the number of eggs nest and turtles’ remigration rate have increased two times. The report becomes a positive indicator to welcome World Turtle Day on May 23.
"This remarkable recovery shows that changes in policy, inclusive community-based management, and long-term commitment can turn the tide for one of the most charismatic and endangered species on our planet," Hamilton added.
GABRIEL WAHYU TITIYOGA
