Turtle
There are a few beaches in the world about where the giant leatherback turtle lays its eggs. The leatherback is the fourth largest reptile and the largest ever found was more than three meters long from head to tail. It is believed that the critically endangered species nests only in two places in Indonesia - to Tambrauw near Sorong and Raja Ampat (both sites are in West Papua). I decided to take a visit to the beach less known in Raja Ampat and discovered that the remote village of Yenbekaki kept more than these ancient giants of the sea The village was really awesome. Not only had they protected their culture and traditions, they also protected their coral reefs from destructive practices of a mining company nearby.
As we arrived on the shore, a kind, elderly man took us to his house where we took shelter against the rain storm that had suddenly unleashed. He was Bapak Agustinus mayor and he worked for the organization Conservation International (CI), which has many conservation stations strategically positioned in Raja Ampat. CI is a pioneering organization in identifying hotspots of biodiversity worldwide and the protection of these irreplaceable habitats; some of the richest ecosystems and most important of Indonesia are considered hot spots and many places in Raja Ampat were identified. We relaxed with a cup of tea and asked Agustinus on leatherbacks that laid their eggs on Warebar nearby beach with its 2.5 km of sand.
artistic structure
"In the past, people of Raja Ampat used to come steal the eggs and hunt for turtles nest there because they were easy prey. Even hawksbill were eaten. But since Yenbekaki and Conservation International have started the job, the number of turtles that nest there began to increase every year. When we started, only two lutes appeared a month. now we can have lutes almost every evening after five years of protection, "said Agustinus.
feeling enthusiastic, we asked Agustinus if we could go to the beach and he smiled and shook his head . "the breeding season for leatherbacks begins in March and ends in August. Even with the nested. The olive ridley first starts in February, once the olive ridley starts, lute begins. Leatherback turtles like the beach because the waves are strong and there is no coral reef - it has a sandy bottom. They always come back to the beach where they were born. "
We were just a few weeks earlier! Sensing our disappointment, the daughter of Agustinus showed us some pictures of chicks from their breeding program." We also keep some of the eggs to hatch, for allow turtles to mature and survive without predation. Predators include wild boar, seabirds who know the hatching season, lizards and humans as well. saltwater crocodiles seen near the beach may be predators of the turtles "
The rain had started to calm down and I could see a distinct pattern in the sea. - half of the ocean was now brown complexion One of the villagers on the beach noticed my eyes and explained that the nickel mining company had loosened the earth and caused the runoff. every time it rained, the soil could be seen in the sea water. chemical pollution of soil and began destroying coral reefs and because of protests and blockades, the company ceased mining.
Koreri Symbol
We decided to take a walk through the village Artwork adorned every crevice. - each house had a painted entranceway and art often depicted traditional symbols like koreri Some of the paintings depicted. their ancestors since ancient times and their mythologies. "This is to remember our heritage and our roots," said Agustinus "The government asked us if we would like concrete pavements, but we not say -. We prefer the sand so we can yosim . " Yosim is a traditional Papuan dance involving musical instruments that are played for long hours that people circulating the village. In fact, the village had no phone reception, internet or even public power, but he felt more alive some of the other villages that I had seen in Raja Ampat. The people of Yenbekaki seemed so confident, so sure of their place in the universe. There were not that look in the eyes of "the grass is greener over there?" Who seems to be sweeping through the connected world.
I wanted to know more about their ancient culture and I was invited by a man named Alex, who had long dreadlocks, to visit the community house that night. I ventured timidly in, it was dark and we used candles. A man with strong eyes and a big afro sitting on the floor and he hesitated before welcoming us into the circle. "That's where we play music every night," said Alex, who then proceeded to show me the triton shells that played like trumpets. In the circle of musicians, a huge guitar, maracas and a tifa made from the skin of monitor lizard were now playing. "We are in a group called Sanggar Yenbekaki Sarak," said Alex. "Sometimes the Raja Ampat government sponsors us to tour through Java and Jakarta. We also perform the annual cultural festival each October Waisai." I found out later that they had played with the American musician in Arrington Dionyso East Java, in a combination of experimental jazz and traditional Papuan music.
Tonight we ate rice and vegetable soup warm in the house of Agustinus and shared stories. The moon was full and we walked on the beach. The only shop in the village sold mie goreng and sweets and I'm glad we brought vegetables with us on our trip. I was astonished to see how the villagers are not on this island, but I'm also amazed by their determination to maintain their culture and protect their coral reefs and marine life they seemed sacred worship. The wealth of Yenbekaki village was hidden -. Every grain of sand was a path to something ancient and great
0 Komentar