33 Rote turtles, a critically endangered species native to Indonesia, have been handed over from Mandai Nature to the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry in collaboration with Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and witnessed by the Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore.
Singapore, 07/08/2023 – In a significant step toward conservation, the Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore, Suryo Pratomo, observed the transfer of 33 Rote turtles from Mandai Nature to the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry. The event, held today at the Singapore Zoo, marks a collaborative effort between Mandai Nature and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
Originating from four zoos in the United States, these 33 Rote turtles have undergone a month-long acclimatization process at the Singapore Zoo. They are slated to be flown back to Indonesia on August 8, 2023. This repatriation initiative is not the first of its kind; Mandai Nature previously undertook a similar effort on September 22, 2021, repatriating 13 turtles from zoos in Europe and the United States.
Rote turtles, a critically endangered species listed under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s critically endangered category and also included in Appendix II of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), hail from Rote Island in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. They are protected under Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. P.106 of 2018. The collaborative repatriation efforts underscore the commitment of multiple stakeholders in safeguarding these precious creatures.
Source:KBRI Singapura
