Indonesian authorities rescued and released 20 green sea turtles after they were found on an empty boat during a suspected smuggling attempt.
On Saturday, Oct. 10, the Bali Regional Police’s Water and Air Unit Directorate intercepted an alleged attempt to smuggle 22 green turtles from the waters off South Denpasar’s Serangan Island, also known as Turtle Island, the Indonesian National Police said in a news release.
After learning of public reports of suspected protected wildlife smuggling in the area, officials became suspicious of a blue boat that looked different from the usual boats operating near the island.
“This boat was not the type of fishing boat typically operating in the area,” Bali Regional Police Senior Superintendent Ariasandy said in a statement.
After monitoring the location and conducting an investigation, local police worked with the Bali Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) to seize all 22 turtles while they were still alive.
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They also secured the boat as evidence and brought it to the Bali Regional Police’s Water Police Command Headquarters.
“Based on the findings at the scene, the perpetrator is suspected of fleeing upon learning of the officers’ arrival,” police shared in the release. “The suspected perpetrator is still under investigation and being pursued by the Bali Regional Police’s Water Police Law Enforcement Sub-Directorate.”
According to the Associated Press, Gusti Agung Purnama Wirahadi from the Bali Water and Air Police said two of the turtles are sick and will need treatment before they are released. Officers carefully returned the other 20 turtles to the ocean after conductin
“We hope that no one will dare to capture, keep, or trade these protected species anymore,” Wirahadi said.
Turtle species in Indonesia have been legally protected under conservation and fisheries laws since 1990, per the Turtle Foundation. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) downlisted the green sea turtle on the Red List from “endangered” to “least concern” in 2025.
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