Wilhelmus Wokadewa Melur and Theresia Solid Weran, Caring for Young Turtles on Solor’s Shore

For Mus Wokadewa Melur and his wife Theresia Solid Weran, experience over the last five years combined with the conservation knowledge from experts will enable them to safeguard the ecosystem even better.

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS PATI HERIN

Wokadewa Melur (55) and his wife Theresia Solid Weran (54)

The discovery of turtle eggshells one morning in April 2018 marked a turning point for Wilhelmus “Mus” Wokadewa Melur, 54, and his wife Theresia Solid Weran, 53, in their care for turtles. With whatever equipment available, the couple search for turtle eggs, tend to them until they hatch and later release the baby turtles into the wild.

Mus found the eggshells when he was walking with his wife along the shore in their village of Sulengwaseng, South Solor district, East Flores regency, East Nusa Tenggara. The sandy shore covers a stretch of more than 5 kilometers.

Discovering the turtle eggshells, Mus was reminded of a message from his relative who had been engaged in wildlife conservation. Mus was frequently cautioned that turtles were protected animals. Hunting turtles and their eggs violates the law and is liable to imprisonment or a fine of considerable value.

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“Any such violation is said to be subjected to six years in prison or a fine of Rp 1.5 billion [US$102]. I dread it most. My wife and I are just common people, we have only finished elementary school. We don’t want to have trouble with the police,” said Mus, who was accompanied by his wife when visited at the place of turtle hatching on Monday (10/4/2023).

When they found the turtle eggs, Mus’ instinct began to work. He believed the turtles’ nest was not far away. He gathered the eggs until got a total of 102. They divided their tasks. Mus was watching over the eggs while Theresia was picking up a container from home.

As there was no bucket, Theresia brought a used a 25-liter used paint can previously used to collect water. One by one the eggs were put into it and then they took them home.

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS PATI HERIN

Wilhelmus Wokadewa Melur shows the certificate of appreciation he received from efforts to save baby turtles on the coast of Solor Island, East Flores Regency, NTT, Monday (10/4/2023).

Without adequate knowledge of turtle conservation, they only buried the eggs in the sand. As a precaution against predators, they encircled the place with worn out fish nets. They feared roaming dogs would prey on the eggs.

After five weeks, a number of the eggs hatched, producing 30 baby turtles. This total was only 25 percent of the eggs buried. Mus realized that the process of egg handling was not right yet. He then consulted his relative already well versed in turtle conservation.

Turtles’ character

Mus and Theresia have thus become committed to safeguarding turtles on the shore. During the turtle egg-laying season from February to October, they frequently get up at 3 a.m. to walk along the shore. Carrying flashlights and a used paint can, they trace the beach to find turtle nests and dig them up. They return home no sooner than 10 a.m. in the morning.

As time goes by, Mus has developed a better understanding of the character of turtles. According to him, turtles often disguise their nests to deceive predators. Even when nests are found, it is not always easy to locate their eggs.

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After finding them, the next step is to collect and put the eggs into a container. The formation of the eggs in the containers should be precisely the same as that in their nest. The formation does not change when they are later buried in the hatching depot.

The other important thing is that an amount of sand from the nest should be taken and spread into the container or the burying hole. This is meant to make the eggs experience as if they were in the same habitat, which affects the hatching process and health of young turtles.

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS PATI HERIN

Wokadewa Melur (55) and his wife Theresia Solid Weran (54)

Over five weeks later, Mus and his wife are alert for 24 hours, waiting for the hatching process. The initial sign is the sand where eggs are buried starts sinking. Not long after that, baby turtles appear one by one. “It’s rather slow during the night. With some lighting they will appear faster,” he said.

Their release will follow soon. However, at this stage Mus often has to wait for local officials wishing to participate in the young turtle release into the wild. He sometimes has to wait for days. So, the young turtles are put into a pail containing sea water. In the meantime, he has to change the sea water every three hours to keep the baby turtles fresh.

I feel very happy. Sometimes I’m moved for having saved these animals.

Young turtles are released into the Sawu Sea. As they head for the sea, their sex can be identified. Male turtles usually move rapidly into the water, while female turtles walk slowly, pausing and turning their heads to the left and right before going further.

“I feel very happy. Sometimes I’m moved for having saved these animals. A total of 6,702 young turtles have been successfully released here,” revealed Mus.

Learning

Not only helping turtle eggs hatch, Mus and his spouse have also repeatedly saved turtles from the threat of being slaughtered by local fishermen. He has several times been asked by nearby village residents to help release trapped turtles. He would rush to the locations in his motorboat.

He also has an effective technique of communication and approach to subdue fishermen who have caught turtles. If they resist, Mus delivers the rule of wildlife protection complete with its criminal sanctions. “We have saved a total of 58 turtles,” he said.

Mus, who keeps learning to understand more about young turtles, hopes to learn a lot more about conservation from turtle experts. For him, his experience over the last five years combined with the conservation knowledge from experts will enable him to safeguard the ecosystem even better. “I’m very interested to join training, but there’s no opportunity yet,” he added.

Wilhelmus Wokadewa Melur

Born: Sulengwaseng, 21 December 1968

Theresia Solid Weran

Born:Boru, 18 May 1969

This article was translated by Aris Prawira.