TABANAN, DEWATA.NEWS – A community – based turtle conservation effort at Yeh Gangga Beach in Tabanan continues to operate despite ongoing challenges related to limited facilities and funding.
The conservation program, located in Sudimara Village, has been running for around 15 years and is primarily supported by the local customary village (Desa Adat Yeh Gangga) along with voluntary donations from visitors.
Bendesa Adat Yeh Gangga, I Ketut Dolia, explained that conservation activities have traditionally been seasonal, aligning with the turtle nesting period.
“The conservation has been ongoing for about 15 years, but it has mostly operated seasonally, following the nesting period between May and September,” he said on Wednesday (April 1, 2026).
According to Dolia, three turtle species are commonly found nesting along Yeh Gangga Beach: olive ridley turtles, hawksbill turtles, and green turtles. Conservation efforts focus on securing eggs, managing incubation, and releasing hatchlings back into the sea.
“The species that nest here include olive ridley, hawksbill, and green turtles,” he added.
During peak nesting season, the number of nests can reach hundreds. Dolia noted that early signs of nesting activity can already be observed from January.
“At the peak of the season in May, hundreds of nests can be found along the beach,” he said.
The conservation process heavily relies on community participation. Local residents who discover turtle eggs while carrying out daily activities along the beach typically report and hand them over to conservation teams for protection and incubation.
To encourage responsible reporting and prevent misuse, the conservation group provides a compensation of IDR 100,000 to residents who submit turtle eggs.
“Residents who find the eggs receive IDR 100,000 as compensation, to ensure the eggs are protected and not misused,” Dolia explained.
The initiative highlights ongoing grassroots efforts to protect marine biodiversity in Bali, particularly in coastal areas where turtle nesting activity remains significant.