Gili Islands are famous for year-round experiences with endangered Green and Hawksbill turtles. We aim to create a safe haven for turtle nests that currently are under threat from poaching, trampling, storm surges and pollution, with a hatchery on the beach for protected incubation before immediate release to the ocean. Along with this, we want to boost eco-tourism with a Turtle Education Centre for guests to immerse themselves in the mysterious life of a sea turtle without cruel exploitation.
Gili Trawangan is developing rapidly and unsustainably. Turtles are running out of safe places to nest as irresponsible development on the beach obstructs nesting behaviour. Pollution from tourism, illegal beach development and mismanaged village waste threatens nesting and hatching. This project will save up to 4,800 eggs every year, threatened by over-tourism, development and destructive turtle head-starting programs where turtles are kept captive in tanks for tourists to visit.
A hatchery beach will create a protected space to incubate eggs. This will increase hatchling success rates and offer immediate release to the ocean. By creating Indonesia's first ethical Turtle Conservation Centre, guests are offered a wealth of interaction WITHOUT the exploitation of live turtles and captive hatchlings. Using VR 360' technology and a self-guided garden tour, guests can learn from novel attractions for a memorable experience whilst safeguarding future populations of turtles.
This project will bring sustained employment to a team of local Turtle Rangers to educate and collaborate with the local community to help locate and protect more nests. We aim to put Gilis on the map leading in ethical Turtle Tourism with protocols that can be shared with other centres to cease damaging headstarting projects across Indonesia and offer sustainable tourism and positive species protection for endangered turtles.
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