Dear Friends,
Greetings from the heart of Tanjung, to all friends of nature around the globe

Turtles in Distress
I am certain that most of you have heard many disturbing reports over the past weeks and months on the shocking situation turtles face here on our Island paradise

In the meantime nine years have passed since I witnessed the cruel slaughtered of this gentle beautiful marine reptiles.  In one way people must be aware of the fact  that turtles were for a very long time part of the normal food chain, and often also used as a special feast after a ceremony. In some ways I can swallow the fact that people eat turtles.

However, what hurts me is the fact the way turtles are killed.  If done with a simple cut through  the throat,  then not much pain is involved. However, to cut this poor creatures alive out of their shell seems not right,  but very cruel and barbaric.

GOVERNMENT LAW

Officially the harvest of marine turtles is prohibited by law in Indonesia, and we slowly see some interference by officials to cut down on the trade. However we still have a long and painful path ahead of us.
In the meantime three years have passed since we started our efforts to help this magnificent prehistoric creatures.  As once again the nesting season for olive riddles has started, we work very hard to keep as many eggs and turtles away from the stewpot.  Over the past two months we collected alone from the market in Jimbaran over 2000 eggs, representing 20 nests and helped 22 fully nature Olive Riddle turtles which we bought from fishermen 

I am certain many of  you have in the past enjoyed a great seafood dinner in one of the many seafood places.  Did you ever thought that on the same  beach, turtles still find their way in to lay their eggs on the same beach they hatched 30 years ago? Well a few things have changed over the past 30 years.

A Cry for help ........

TURTLES FOR SALE

A Rather Bizarre  Price Lists

Fully grown olive riddle	Rp. 200.000
Eggs per kg One turtle lay about 3 1/2kgs eggs/90-120 eggs	Rp. 50.000
Green turtles - 20kgs	Rp. 200.000
Green turtles - 100kgs	Rp.1.000.000

Obviously our efforts to keep turtles away from the stew pot are not without considerable financial commitment. If you consider that we save about 600 medium size green turtles, 30 Olive riddles, and about 100kgs eggs per year..
Perhaps you would like to save a turtle too......?????
If you wish to support our program then please do contact our office directly or visit our website www.balifood.com/turtles
As a little thank you,  we will give you a 11 minute CD- Rom which we produced on the sad situation here in Bali.  With the sale of  each  we will save the life of a 15 kg green turtles.

INTERNATIONAL  ATTENTION AND SUPPORT RECEIVED

ABC Australian Foreign Correspondence
Aired a 30 minutes program on the trade of turtles. Some shocking scenes were seen.
Discovery Channel UK
Just completed the filming of a first episode on a 13 parts series called "Animal Crimes". 
200.000.000 Europeans will see how law enforcement fails to protect our turtles.
Animal Planet, Jeff Corwin show included our efforts in one of their programs on the Indonesian Islands.

 

Intercontinental Resort Jimbaran
Congratulation to the team at the Intercontinental. In there efforts to assist in the protection of turtles,  there first nest this year  hatched last week. From 92 eggs collected, 91 hatched. This must be a record.
Astra Zeneca Company
Their annual Sales and Marketing meeting was held here in Bali. The company and their sales team donated over Rp. 20'000'000 and saved that way 151 green turtles.  

Susan Symons 

Collected so far over Rp.12'000'000 and now is trying very hard to set up a foundation in Australia. If you have contacts down under then please do contact Susan directly on waratah@wxc.com.au
Elizabeth Liman of PT. Indoguna Utama 
Donated over  Rp. 5.000.000 so far. This great lady is also spreading the word not only in Jakarta, but all over Asia within the business community  to stay away form eating turtle eggs.
The above represents only a small lists of a fast growing number of supporters of our little, but heart breaking project. 
Thank you to all and everybody for all your tremendous supporter.
Lets hope that with more  joint efforts,  we will be able to safe lots more of this magnificent reptiles and hopefully see a end of the trade soon.
With best personal regards from the heart of Tanjung and the magic Island of Bali.

Heinz and the team