DENPASAR (indo.com): Efforts to save endangered turtles in Bali intensify, with the local administration allocating Rp150 million for the turtle safety project in Tanjung Benoa, Nusa Dua.

The governor of Bali donated the funds to Tanjung Benoa villagers on October 23, 2001. Also witnessing the donation presentation ceremony were representatives from the World Wallacea Foundation (WWF). The funds are earmarked for the baby turtle breeding program, which focuses on raising the hatchlings (know locally as tukik) until they are strong enough to be released into the ocean.

Other proposed projects include beach reclamation in Tanjung Benoa, which is necessary to make it suitable for the new turtle population. A plan is also underway to use some mangrove forest south of Denpasar as a safe place to release thousands of young turtles to allow them to grow up without disturbance from irresponsible fishermen.

"The villagers of Tanjung Benoa aim to breed and release 100,000 turtles per year. The Balinese will only be allowed to catch them for religious purposes after the turtles reach 20 years of age; at that age they are considered not productive anymore," said I Ketut Sukada, the village head of Tanjung Benoa and chairman of the Turtle Preservation Association of Tanjung Benoa, Bali.

Anyone wanting to kill turtles for religious purposes must first receive permission from the local police and the Hindu Assembly Association (Parisadha Hindu Dharma) from Jakarta, or face being arrested and fined.

To reduce locals' interest in purchasing turtles, local fishermen and villagers are being encouraged to mark up the price in order to further reduce the number of illegal turtle traders.

Meanwhile, the WWF also suggested local villagers establish a turtle education center, but keep sight of their main priority: seeing a healthy population of tutles return to Tanjung Benoa.