President Jokowi Joins Cilacap Residents to Release Endangered Sea Turtle Hatchlings

President Joko Widodo releases sea turtle hatchlings at Kemiren Beach, Cilacap, Central Java province, Thursday (23/9). (Photo: Agus Suparto)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Thursday (23/9) at Kemiren beach in the southern Central Java coastal town of Cilacap joined residents to release sea turtle hatchlings – whose population is decreasing – to the sea.

“Today we released 1,500 Lekang turtle hatchlings and the green turtle hatchlings whose population is decreasing. We hope the turtles will not be extinct,” the President said.

The campaign, the President added, was also expected to create a healthy marine ecosystem and maintain environmental balance on the coasts across Indonesia.

“I hope this campaign will build public awareness to maintain and keep the turtles growing and increasing in number,” he said, adding that the campaign will also be launched on a massive scale in all coasts throughout the archipelago.

“This turtle hatchling release campaign will not only be carried out in Cilacap. We will do it massively in beaches throughout the country,” he remarked. (DND/UN) (EST/EP)