Turtle
There are few beaches in the world where the giant leatherback turtle lays its eggs. The leather is the fourth largest reptile and the largest ever found was more than three meters long from head to tail. It is believed that the endangered species that only nests at two locations in Indonesia - (both places in West Papua) in Tambrauw, near Sorong and Raja Ampat. I decided to take and discovered that the remote village Yenbekaki was to get more than just these old giants of the sea to visit the lesser known beach in Raja Ampat. The village was really impressive; Not only had they protected their local culture and traditions, they had protected their coral reefs also from the destructive practices of a nearby mining company.
When we arrived at the shore, a kind, took us older man to his house, where we before the storm of rain took refuge, who had unleashed suddenly. He was Bapak Agustinus mayor and he worked for the organization Conservation International (CI), which is positioned many conservation contributions strategically has about Raja Ampat. CI is to identify a pioneering organization biodiversity hotspots around the world and then to protect these irreplaceable habitats; some of Indonesia's richest and most important ecosystems are hotspots and many sites in Raja Ampat were identified, taken into account. We rested with a warm cup of tea and Agustinus asked about the leatherback turtles that lay their eggs on the nearby beach of Warebar with its 2.5 km from Sand.
Artistic structure
"In the past, people of Raja Ampat to come and steal the eggs and the turtles used there because they easy prey were nesting chase. Even the hawks bills consumed. But since Yenbekaki and Conservation International, the post office, the number of turtles began there nesting started every year to increase. When we started, appeared only two leatherbacks per month. now we can have leatherbacks almost every night after five years of protection "Agustinus said.
excited feeling, we asked if we could Agustinus visit the beach, and he smiled and shook his head. "The incubation period for the leather begins in March and ends in August. Same with the hawksbill. The Olive Ridley turtle first starts in February, once the Olive Ridley starts, then the leather starts. The leatherbacks like the beach because the waves are strong and there is no coral -.. it has a sandy bottom, you always return to the beach where they were born "
We were just a few weeks early! Sensing our disappointment, Agustinus' daughter showed us a few photos of the hatchlings from their breeding program. "We also hold some of the eggs to hatch to reach to allow the turtles mature and survive without predation. Predators are wild boar, seabirds who know the season of hatching, lizards and humans. Saltwater crocodiles can seen near beach be predators of the turtles "
the rain had begun to subside, and I could see a clear pattern in the sea -. Half of the ocean is now stained brown. One of the villagers on the beach noticed my glance and explained that a nickel mining company, had loosened the country, causing run-off; when it rained, the ground could be seen in the sea water. The soil and chemical pollution began the coral reefs and because of protests and blockades, stopped mining to destroy the company.
Koreri symbol
We have decided to take a walk through the village. Artwork adorned cranny - every house had a painted entranceway and the work of art often depicted traditional symbols such as koreri . Some of the murals represented their ancestors from the ancient world and their mythologies. "This is to remember our heritage and our roots," said Agustinus. "The government has asked us if we would like concrete roadways, but we said no - we prefer sand, so we yosim ." Yosim is a traditional Papuan dance performances musical instruments for long hours, as the locals are played circulate the village. In fact, the village had no cell phone reception, Internet or public power, but it felt more alive than some of the other villages I saw Raja Ampat. The people of Yenbekaki seemed so sure, so sure of their place in the universe. You do not have that look in her eyes of 'greener grass is there?' That seems to sweep through the connected world.
I wanted to find out more about their ancient culture, and I was invited, was by a man named Alex, the long dreadlocks, this evening to visit the Community House. I ventured timidly, it was dark and we used candles. A man with strong eye and a big afro was sitting on the floor and he hesitated to before we welcome into the circle. "That's where we play music every night," said Alex, then I went the TRITON shells to show that as trumpets were played. In the circle of musicians, a great guitar, maracas and a tifa from the skin of monitor lizards were now played. "We are in a band called Sanggar Sarak Yenbekaki" explains Alex. "Sometimes the Raja Ampat government is sponsoring us tours through Java and Jakarta to do. We also perform at the Waisai annual cultural festival every year in October." I later learned that they with the American musician Arrington de Dionyso in East Java, Music had carried out in a combination of experimental jazz and traditional Papuans.
This evening we ate warm rice and vegetable soup in Agustinus home and shared stories. The moon was full and we walked on the beach. The only shop in the village sold mie goreng and sweets, and I was glad we had brought vegetables with us on our journey. I was amazed at how much the villagers had not on this island, but I was amazed by their determination to preserve their culture and protect their coral reefs and the holy life in the sea, that they seemed to worship. The wealth of Yenbekaki village was hidden -. Every grain of sand is a way to something ancient and great was
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