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Indonesia Releases 20 Green Sea Turtles After Smuggling Raid on Bali
WHY IT MATTERS
The release demonstrates enforcement of wildlife protection laws, protecting an endangered species and deterring future smuggling attempts.
What happened
On Tuesday, Indonesian authorities on Bali’s Serangan Island—also called Turtle Island—released 20 protected green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) back into the ocean after a police raid uncovered 22 turtles on an abandoned boat. The raid was prompted by residents who suspected smuggling activity in the waters off Serangan.
Marine police, led by Gusti Agung Purnama Wirahadi of the Bali Water and Air Police, conducted final checks at a conservation center before transporting the turtles by truck to the shoreline. Two turtles remain sick and will be treated before release.
The incident underscores Indonesia’s long‑standing legal protection of sea turtles, established in 1990 and reinforced by a 2018 Environment Ministry regulation that prohibits their trade.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Indonesia returns 20 green sea turtles to the ocean after Bali smuggling raid
Mongabay · Mongabay Editor · Discovery and factual synthesis only; publisher copyright terms apply
CORRECTIONS & UPDATES
- Revision 1 · Initial ingestion · Oct 13, 2026, 5:30 PM
- Revision 2 · Source update detected · Oct 13, 2026, 5:30 PM