DENPASAR (indo.com): Government of Bali is currently intensifying efforts to save turtles by returning seized turtles to the ocean where they live.

Local police seized 120 live turtles in a raid on a slaughter house in Sanur on July 3, 2001, only several days after general planning formulation on turtle conservation in Indonesia was discussed in Denpasar, Bali.

Police found that the turtles, most of them green turtles (chelonia mydas) that are protected by law, were kept at two buildings separated from the main house. All of the seized turtles were brought to police headquarters by truck to be protected and will be returned to the ocean where they live.

People who were found guilty of illegally raising turtles for business were arrested and were asked to pay fines .

Bali government has reportedly issued a written ruling on conservation of Bali turtles in hope that some tourism industries as well as other parties, particularly those running their business around the beaches should be able to save the eggs of turtles.

Achmad Abdullah, director of conservation, acknowledged in a workshop recently that it was very difficult to totally conserve all kinds of turtles, which live in the ocean and still belongs to Indonesia territory, due to people's poor awareness of the need to preserve turtles.

Balinese Governor Dewa Made Beratha attributed the increasing consumption of turtles in Tanjung Benoa to the rapid development of tourism industry in the area.

Historically, turtles are consumed in Bali for ritual purposes or as complement of ceremonies, particularly in the Southern part of Denpasar. Based on a survey, only 300 turtles are required for ceremonial purposes per year. However, trading of turtles in Bali has reached at an alarming stage, with the number of turtles traded reaching 9,000 from May to August 1999 .

This is the reason why the trading of turtles should be prohibited, a local supporter of turtle said.

The Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna is among the organizations that have opposed the trading of turtles in Bali.