Helping Baby Turtles into the Sawu Sea

Kompas/Kornelis Kewa Ama

Turtle hatchlings in a cage in Loang Beach, Nagawutung district, Lembata, East Nusa Tenggara. As of Sunday (26/2) up to 8,210 turtle hatchlings had been released to the Sawu Sea.

Heavy rain washes over Loang Beach in Rian Bao village, Nagawutung district, Lembata, East Nusa Tenggara, on Sunday (26/2/2017). As a sign of their strong determination to make the beach a central turtle habitat, hundreds of Lembata residents walked through the downpour to help over 300 tukik (baby turtles) make it into the Sawu Sea.

The Loang Beach, with its smooth white sand, is on the south side of Lembata Island, facing the Sawu Sea.