With a number of critical issues affecting our World at this time, we hope you will be pleased to hear about the recent improvements on Tulap turtle beach. These improvements have helped thousands of turtle hatchlings make it to the sea safely and offered additional protection for the turtles that come to the beach.
Baby turtle on Tulap beach
Our recent sponsored improvement work started just before any international awareness of the pandemic crisis, so it is not quite finished because of the lockdown in Indonesia.
We look forward to it being completed soon.
Thank you for your support and
Happy World Turtle Day!
Leatherback hatchlings at Tulap beach in 2019
Special thanks go to the hard work of the Victoria Shanghai Academy (VSA) Secondary Masarang Club, led by teacher Karin Samuel, the school community of the Sarah Roe Jockey Club School, as well as donors directly to Masarang HK. Without you, this support would not have been possible. Thank You!
Latest Improvements
1. New Upgraded Hatchery
Erik, Masarang Foundation CEO, wearing a mask, with some of the Tulap Beach Team and the VSA sponsored hatchery
For over 7 years, the original sea turtle hatchery at Tulap beach, supported by Island School, Hong Kong, has protected tens of thousands of sea turtle eggs and hatchlings. However, wear and tear resulted in the need to build a new hatchery. The VSA students raised funds and sponsored the new hatchery, which was completed just before the lockdown.
The new hatchery has been keeping eggs safe from poachers and predators for three months already and has given the hatchlings the best start they could possibly have!
The students from the VSA and other HK schools have been visiting this beach during a CAS trips for many years and sincerely appreciate the joy of seeing the turtles make it to the sea from the hatchery. https://masarang.hk/2018/06/26/vsa-students-cas-trip-to-tasikoki-sun-sea-sugar-sweat-and-super-support-and-baby-sea-turtles/
2a. Tulap Multifunctional Resource Centre and Coastal Erosion Protection
Masarang HK has been able to sponsor the building of a Multifunctional Resource Centre on the beach, with all building work led by Masarang team members; Mr Erik Kaunang, CEO of Masarang Foundation and Mr Billy Motulo. This will enable students, staff, volunteers and visitors to have a base from which to carry out important activities such as: patrols, briefings and educational activities.
Multifunctional Resource Centre at Tulap
2b. Beach Wall
Additionally, to protect the beach and the hatchery from coastal erosion, we sponsored the building of a beach wall that was urgently needed because the small river flowing to the Tulap beach had changed direction and threatened to flush away the foundations of the hatchery and impact the turtle nesting areas. Further work will need to be carried out, but the work completed has proven very effective in keeping the hatchery safe.
3. Fresh Water Pipe
The JCSRS community donated funds from their annual walkathon to also provide the funds necessary to support the building of a fresh- water pipe to the beach for the team, visitors, volunteers and educational visits and members of the local community who have limited access to fresh water.
The JCSRS students enjoy hearing about the animals at Tasikoki during their annual talk and especially love seeing images of the baby turtles emerging safely from their nests.
https://masarang.hk/2020/03/12/another-year-of-generous-support-from-jockey-club-sarah-roe-school-community/
JCSRS Teachers and Students at the 2019 Walkathon
Please consider sponsoring additional patrols of the beach during peak nesting times
A team from the local community is working with the Foundation to protect the area.
However, if groups of poachers come to the beach armed, it is necessary to ask the local police and army to assist in enforcing the law. This requires a cost of IDR 200,000 (approx. HKD 110) for two enforcement officers a night, though they only need to visit 2-3 times a week. These officers have already captured a persistent poacher, who received a prison sentence for breaking the law. We are very grateful for this involvement and assistance but do need help to fund this additional protection.
Endangered Sea Turtles Still Need Our Help. For HKD880 a month (June-November), you can make a big difference to their survival on Tulap beach.
We hope any of you who wish to support the protection of five species of sea turtles consider sponsoring additional patrols.
Cost of additional patrols per month during nesting season:
IDR 200,000 x2 (1 week) = IDR 400,000 x 4 (1 month) = IDR 1,600,000/month (approx. HKD 880).
Thank you!
Masarang HK team
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