LOMBOK                                                       

After many visits to Lombok and several disturbing reports about the current turtle situation on our neighboring island,  we finally set aside a little time to make a first effort to set up a turtle conservation program on this incredible beautiful island. Our visit would not have been possible without the commitment of  Mr. Kurt Vogel the General Manager at the Holiday Inn in Lombok and his great team which  joined  our effort to hopefully save the fast diminishing turtle population on this  island paradise. 
Bellows facts are based on findings we (Pak Made our operations manager and myself) made during a three days visit from April 29 - May 1.

TURTLE EGGS

Our first stop after arriving at the Mataram airport was the market at Ampenan.  Within minutes we found a lady selling turtle eggs (olive riddle), which we purchased and used as teaching material at the Holiday Inn later.  Initially I was not certain if the eggs still would  be alive, but found then out two days later that the eggs are collected every morning by one person,  which will then take them to the markets for consumption.

We went back the next day to the same lady and purchased another 40 eggs. Obviously we wanted to know where the eggs come from. At  this stage all people we spoke to pointed towards Tanjung (Another Tanjung!!) which is located right across the Gili island and only meters away from the Oberoi Hotel in Lombok.  Tanjung is about 30 km away from  Senggigi Beach.

THE NEXT DAY IN TANJUNG

One fisherman mentioned that part of the egg harvest was sold to a turtle conservation project on the Gili islands and the rest further on to the local markets for consumption. When ever we asked how many, we always received the same answer "Banyak" (lots) figures of 100, hundreds, 500 and more where  mentioned.
For the egg harvest in this area it would be ideal if we could convince a Hotel like the Oberoi to join us in this project. That way we could ensure that the eggs go back in to the sand within a few hours after harvest. 
I strongly believe that the eggs from Tanjung would not be of much usage for the project at the Holiday in as the 30 km drive is rather bumpy.

Perhaps somebody can advise  us how to safely transport turtle eggs across a rough country road.
Unfortunately we only found the eggs of Olive riddles and no other species of turtles. 
From Tanjung we then drove slowly back passed many beaches and beach communities with whom we made first contacts. All of them agreed with the fact that they had "lots" of turtle eggs for trade and consumption during nesting season. Especially during full moon. Funny enough we come also across two beach communities which never harvest eggs or turtles.
In short, there is a rather large  supply of turtle eggs and sadly enough a figure of a daily harvest of 5000 eggs where I came across once, might not be fiction but sad reality. Then again Lombok is a big island with 4739 km2 and a population of over 2.3 million people.

TURTLES TRADE IN LOMBOK

During our short stay we visit two main fishing harbors on the east coast of Lombok.
1. Tanjung Luar
2. Pelabuhan Haji
Both ports are about 100 km away from Mataram.  In both harbors we saw one turtle boat.  Fortunately or sadly  both just returned from Bali where they emptied their pressures load of turtles.
We spoke in length to the crew of one boat in Pelabuhan Haji.  The fishermen were from the same village.  Their last load consisted of about 60 turtles which they sold to Tanjung Benoa in Bali.  

The dealers mentioned in Tanjung was  "Wewe and Rasta". As  you might have heard  Wewe has been charged for illegal turtle trade to one year jail. However, he disappeared during the same time, and has not been seen since. Both fishing places are used as transit places. In the past there  were holding bins in Pelabuhan Haji where they kept turtles until they had enough to fill a boat with destiny Bali. The holding bins were recently broken down by the Government. 
Turtle boats  are often for weeks on fishing trips which go as far as Ambon, Sumbawa, Kalimantan, Sumatra, Belitung, Flores
The turtle catchers we spoke to all knew that it was illegal to go after turtles. Then again why should one worry as nobody is checking anyhow..........

We came across several places where they were catching turtles for local consumption.  Lombok Moslems only eat eggs but not the meat.  It is the Hindu community in Lombok which do eat turtle on a regular basis,  and then of course for ceremonies.  Through back roads and thanks to Jamal our  fantastic taxi driver we purchased two small green turtles which destine was the stew pot the same evening. Again I believe that nature is able to sustain such local consumption as it is only for home consumption  and not for commercial trade.    Prices what the fishermen get for a turtle
Small 15 kg green turtle Rp. 20.000 (US$2.50)
Large 80 kg green turtle Rp. 60.000 (US$7.50)
Eggs  Rp. 800 each.
According to the fishermen they normally harvest as many turtles, nests and eggs as they can get. There is a very high demand for this highly tasty eggs and meat.

REVIEW OF LAST THREE DAYS

Beside traveling about 500 km across this incredible beautiful island we have initiated the following:

1. Holiday Inn Lombok led by GM  Mr. Vogel   and his green team made a commitment to set up their own turtle hatching program.  The hotel has designated a area  where they will hatch "Lost and Stolen" turtle eggs.  In the same area they will build an attractive pond in order to keep some of the hatchlings back.  This hatchling  will be sold to guests for release.  Hopefully the  generated funds will be sufficient to finance and guarantee the continuation of  this caring program.
Thank you for your support.

2.Fisherman
We have spoken to lots of fishermen and market ladies within 30 km from the Holiday Inn, to directly sell the eggs to the hotel.

3.Turtle egg purchaser
We have hired on our personal payroll a taxi driver who will daily drive from beach community to beach community to collect eggs and bring them to the Holiday Inn.

4.Donation
We have given to the Holiday Inn a first Rp. 2.750.000 which should purchase about 2500 eggs or the eggs from about 20 nests.

5.Continuation
I We will frequently travel back to Lombok to monitor and support the project in any way possible.

A CRY FOR HELP
To end this note I like to thank several great people 
for making this  little conservation project  possible

1. My beautiful wife Puji and son Fabian for letting me go during an extremely busy period.
2. Mr. Vogel the GM at the Holiday Inn for his  full hearted support.
3. Mr.Widodo Panggih Trijono Assistant Manager at the Holiday Inn Lombok and leader of the green team
4. Mr Pat. GM at the Holiday Inn Bali Hai here in Bali for introducing me to Mr. Vogel.
4. Pak Made Suadnyana our own operational manager for his incredible passion talking to fishermen and traders. Without Pak Made our little project here in Bali would have never succeeded.
5. Pak Jamal  HP 081 736 7146.  Lomboks best taxi driver. If you ever need a terrific Gentleman to show you around Lombok then Jamal  is definitely the best person. He is now our turtle egg purchaser. So if you need assistance with turtles in Lombok, then he is the right person
6. Last but not least to the greatest team I was ever able to have as our employees in Bumbu Bali and Rumah Bali.

I already look forward to my next visit to Lombok.
Wishing you all a great May, and look forward to hear and see many of you back on our Island paradise.
With best personal regards from the ever beautiful and very busy island of Gods. 

Heinz von Holzen

P.S
I am certain you have heard about Sumbawa, The island next to Lombok.  I think we might go there next year.....Anyone would like to join us.
Anyone wants to join ???
As always with best personal regards from the island of Gods.

LAST SOME VERY SAD NEWS FROM BALI

We now know for certain that the turtle market in Tanjung Benoa is back into full swing.  After an initial crack down by the government six months ago the illegal trade is back into full swing.  Boat load after boat load is once again arriving here in Bali. Is there someone out there who can help ???