Turtle Hatchery of Pemuteran
The Turtle Hatchery of Pemuteran in the utmost west of Bali started in 1994 after Australian Chris Brown, the owner of a diving company in the area, bought a sea turtle from a local fisherman who caught the animal in one of his nets by accident, to save its life; the turtle was tied to a rope and let out to graze in the sea during the day, and at night brought into a small pond. A second turtle soon joined the first and thus the Turtle Hatchery Project became a fact.
The Turtle Hatchery project’s mission is to promote the protection of the wild turtle population and to stop, or at least diminish the worthless slaughtering of turtles.
Up to 2001, more than 3000 juvenile turtles have been released into the ocean as well as many larger adults. Usually they are Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) and Olive Ridley Turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea).
To manage it all, the turtles cost about Rp. 50,000 for the first six months of life. They are fed twice a day with sardines, silverside fish and baitfish.
The tanks, in which between 150 and 200 turtles – separated according to their age – swim around, are drained and refilled with fresh water once a day.
The turtle hatchery of Pemuteran is close to the National Park Bali Barat and snorkeling paradise Menjangan island.
If you plan to go to Bali then a visit to Chris Brown’s turtle hatchery project in Pemuteran, west Bali, certainly should be on your to do list – you will not regret it! Combine it with a visit to the unique Bali Barat National Park and / or a snorkeling trip to Deer island Menjangan.
+ More information about the Turtle Hatchery can be found at Chris Brown’s website
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