FAKULTAS KEDOKTERAN HEWAN UNIVERSITAS AIRLANGGA BASIC STUDY OF SEA TURTLE OBSERVATION IN ALAS PURWO NATIONAL PARK, BANYUWANGI, EAST JAVA

FAKULTAS KEDOKTERAN HEWAN UNIVERSITAS AIRLANGGA
BASIC STUDY OF SEA TURTLE OBSERVATION IN ALAS PURWO NATIONAL PARK,
BANYUWANGI, EAST JAVA

KMPV Pet and Wild Animal of Veterinary Medicine Faculty of Airlangga University


ABSTRACT

Alas Purwo National Park is one of sea turtle’s nesting site in Indonesia. Nesting is an unique
reproduction behaviour for the sea turtle and become interesting to be explored. Many ways to explore
this interesting topic, such as the basic study for the sea turtle observation. This study is an
application basic theory for sea turtle such as identification, behaviours, and natural habitat
conservation. This activity always held by KMPV Pet and Wild Animal once a year since 2004. By the
observation, we look for the appearance of sea turtle while nest, or even the rest of its nest. Since 2004
till now, we have found two positive results which is in 2006 and 2008.
Key words : sea turtle, nesting, Alas Purwo National Park, KMPV Pet and Wild.


Introduction

Sea turtle is the one of endangered reptile and there are seven species only in the world. Sea turtle in
danger of extinction caused by human’s great exploitation, highness of predation levels, and also the
slowness and complexity of the reproduction system. Sea Turtle maturity and can be nesting after reach
about tens years old. The unique reproduction activity of this animal is landing activity to the beach for
nesting. Six species of sea turtle had appeared in Indonesia. One of sea turtle landing location in
Indonesia is Alas Purwo National Park, Banyuwangi, East Java. This national park, which has beach
length about 15,5 kilometres, has compatible vegetation for nesting activity and it’s embryo growth.
Because of that, this national park is one of good site for sea turtle observation. Since 2004 KMPV Pet
and Wild Animal always do the basic study of this observation once a year. This activity meant as basic
theory application for sea turtle observation. Hopefully through this activity, participants can learn
about basic aspects of sea turtle such as identification, behaviours, and the natural habitat conservation.


Methode

Sea turtle nesting activity for laying starts from 8 pm until 5 am. It’s landing can be appeared clearly
from their traces. Their nesting activity starts by step aside movement from the sea to the beach, to the
land that compatible and pleasant for nesting. Then sea turtle digs a nest for placing the eggs in certain
depth. After nesting activity finishes, they will close that nest and makes the fake nest as a trick and
goes back to the sea. Sometimes sea turtle just do survey for nesting when landing then go back to the
sea without nest, called memet. Sea turtle is an animal which has sensitively of disturbances. If a few of
disturbances happen before they lay the eggs down, they will leave the beach and go to the sea. The
disturbances are sounds, lights, and smells. Because of that, the observation is done quietly, with
minimum lighting, and avoids using thing with stings smell such as smoke and perfumes. The
observation starts at 12 pm. The participants are divided into several groups and they explore the beach
from Trianggulasi to Ngagelan (hectometre 25 - 87 area). Tools that needed are flashlight, stationery,
and camera. Hopefully this observation could get results, not only meet the sea turtles directly but also
find the nests and it rests.


Results

During 2004-2008, the observations which had got positive results are the observations in 2006 and
2008. In 2006, that’s only found one turtle nesting trace with their nest and eggs around the hm
(hectometre) 35 area. In expectation by it trace and depth of nest, that nest is belong to green sea
turtle’s (Chelonia mydas). On 2008, there were four landing. Three of them only landing rest on hm
(hectometre) 54, 63, and 70 areas. The direct meeting was happened on hm 75. That sea turtle was an
olive sea turtle (Lepidopchelys olivacea) with carapace length about 60 cm. But on that time, the sea
turtle haven’t nest yet, so it felt disturbed and go back to the sea.


Discussion

Many factors affected the quantity of sea turtle landing for nesting, such as season, tidal wave, noise,
and lighting. Sea turtle’s nest season in Alas Purwo National Park starts from March until October and
peak season is on June. Beside that, the beach line length is about 15,5 km also cause the decreasing
percentage of the opportunity to meet turtle. High number of the people who do observation can
influence the result because the more persons who involved in this observation the noisier the
environment is. The lighting will be optimal If the observation held when full moon, so the beach
condition is on natural condition without any help from artificial lightning. Sea turtle which ready to
nest will easily feel disturbed by condition with excessive lighting, especially flash light. If this thing
happens, they will go back to the sea.


KMPV Pet and Wild Animal.

KMPV Pet and Wild Animal or commonly know as PW is a Veterinarian Profession and Interest
Organization which focus on wild and pet animal. This organization also joined on Chelonia- wildlife
study forum for the Indonesia Veterinary Medicine Faculty. This organization mixes two different
philosophies (pet and wild animal) in order to effort fund for cross subsidy in all activities. Kind of
wild division activities are birds observation in TAHURA Cangar, wild animal observation in Alas
Purwo National Park, veterinary medicine skill training for wild animal, and lectures of wild animal. In
the other hand, pet division activities are cat show, dog rally, clinical handling training for pet, etc.


Refference

Iqomah,M. 2004. Perbandingan Presentase Penetasan dan Masa Inkubasi Penyu Lekang (Lepidochelys
olivacea, Eschsolfltz ,1829) pada penetasan Alami dan Semi Alami di Pantai Marengan, Ngagelan,
Taman Nasional Alas Purwo. Skripsi. Fakultas Kedokteran Hewan Universitas Airlangga.
Nuitja,IN. 1992. Biologi dan Ekologi Pelestarian Penyu Laut. Penerbit