Turtle Guardian of Sodong Beach
In 2018-2019, Jumawan traveled in search of turtle eggs from Sodong Beach eastward to reach Jetis Beach, 25 kilometers away, and managed to collect 50 eggs
Jumawan .
His love and care for the natural environment has motivated Jumawan, 28, to conserve lekang, or olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea), near where he lives on Sodong Beach in Cilacap, Central Java. He is willing to spare his time, energy and income to take care of, raise and then release young turtles to the sea.
“The presence of turtles that come ashore and lay eggs on the beach indicates that the natural condition around the beach is still pristine or clean. On Sodong Beach, turtles keep coming ashore to lay eggs so they should be conserved,” said Jumawan, the chairman of the Cilacap Nagaraja Turtle Conservation Group, when contacted by Kompas on Tuesday (13/7/2021).