The best experience in Bali- Releasing baby turtles

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Photo of The best experience in Bali- Releasing baby turtles by Shilpi

All travel experiences leave you with memories to cherish forever. The memory that would remain etched in my mind is my recent trip to Bali where I contributed (Atleast I think so) to the marine life by releasing a baby turtle in the ocean. That joyous feeling cannot be expressed in words. The crowd cheers, the waves lash and the babies slowly make their first plunge. When those little things crawl towards the water and the enormous ocean waves take them in, it feels like a moment of euphoria. This is Bali Sea Turtle Society in Kuta Beach in Bali, Indonesia.

Sea Turtle Society Board- A request to save marine life

Photo of Bali Sea Turtle Society, Jalan Pantai Kuta, Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia by Shilpi

As a part of the mission to save marine life, the Sea Turtle Society has taken this wonderful initiative to breed turtles. What could be so noble than this? The society is a group of activists and marine life specialists who have recognized turtles as very important part of aquatic life. They breed turtles in controlled environment, protect the eggs and conserve the baby turtles. The little ones are sheltered in one place till they are few days old and ready to be released in water. Tourists are encouraged to participate in the release activity that happens every day at Kuta Beach at 4 pm. This is a free activity for everyone.

I had visited the Bali Sea Turtle Society a day in advance to have a glimpse and speak to the people who organize it.

Bali sea turtle society

Photo of The best experience in Bali- Releasing baby turtles by Shilpi

Looking at the little turtles will only bring you a smile. There were birth dates and release dates mentioned on the flags in the giant container housing a thousand baby turtles.

Photo of The best experience in Bali- Releasing baby turtles by Shilpi
Photo of The best experience in Bali- Releasing baby turtles by Shilpi
Photo of The best experience in Bali- Releasing baby turtles by Shilpi

The gentleman of the organizing board asked us to visit the place next day at 4 pm.

While we made it to the beach the next on time, a huge crowd had gathered around the society office. So much is the popularity of this event, that tourists and locals thong the place in thousands each day.

The crowd gathering at Kuta Beach

Photo of The best experience in Bali- Releasing baby turtles by Shilpi

It was 16th August, a day prior to Indonesian Independence Day, which locals celebrated with road shows and stage events. A huge space for celebration was allocated close to the Turtle Society and the turtle releasing event got delayed by an hour waiting for the chief guest to arrive. Little turtles swam in large tubs waiting to be released in the ocean.

Photo of The best experience in Bali- Releasing baby turtles by Shilpi
Photo of The best experience in Bali- Releasing baby turtles by Shilpi

Every participant was given a container to hold the baby turtle and was asked to wait till the organizer signaled.

Photo of The best experience in Bali- Releasing baby turtles by Shilpi

As the checkered flag was waved, we let the little ones tumble out of our container on the beach.

Crowd cheering up for the baby turtles

Photo of The best experience in Bali- Releasing baby turtles by Shilpi

First crawl on the beach

Photo of The best experience in Bali- Releasing baby turtles by Shilpi

Leaving footprints on sands of time

Photo of The best experience in Bali- Releasing baby turtles by Shilpi

Watching them crawl towards water is a feeling that goes beyond verbal expression. My turtle was hyperactive, waiting to hit the water as soon as it was placed in the container. It pecked my palm a number of times as if asking me to let it go. Watching him make it to the water was sheer ecstasy as my eyes welled up with joy.

Photo of The best experience in Bali- Releasing baby turtles by Shilpi

Turtle feels the water

Photo of The best experience in Bali- Releasing baby turtles by Shilpi

Some made it steadily to the water while some crawled slowly. Few stopped after some distance, and we assumed they died. But they hadn’t! The organizer picked them and placed them closer to water. Their little limbs moved and the crowd broke into cheers! This was indeed one of the best experiences I had.

Out of the 1200 baby turtles released that day, only few would survive. Inspite of the low chances and high risk, apparently that is the only way to protect the precious marine life and Bali is doing a great job at it. I pride in contributing to the environment with this little step and appreciate the sensitivity that Bali Sea Turtle Society has shown for marine life.

When in Bali, this activity is a must-do.

Photo of The best experience in Bali- Releasing baby turtles by Shilpi

Find them on Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/baliseaturtlesociety

Website- http://www.baliseaturtle.org/ where you fan help them and read more about them.

Tweet to them at @BaliSeaTurtle

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