Over 1,200 Painted Terrapin Hatchlings Released into Wild in 2025
The Satucita Lestari Indonesia Foundation (YSLI), together with the Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) and the Aceh Tamiang Regency Government, released a total of 1,222 Painted terrapin hatchlings in 2025.
Joko Guntoro, Founder and Director of the Satucita Lestari Indonesia Foundation (YSLI), made this announcement on Monday (August 11, 2025) in Karang Baru, Aceh Tamiang.
Joko explained that of the 1,222 hatchlings that successfully hatched, 200 were released with the Regent of Aceh Tamiang, Mr. Armia Pahmi, at the World Environment Day commemoration event some time ago.
Then, another 1,022 hatchlings were released back into their habitat on Ujung Tamiang Beach, Kuala Pusung Kapal Village, Seruway District, Aceh Tamiang Regency, on Thursday (August 7, 2025).
Joko explained that the 1,022 released hatchlings represent the total number of successfully eggs hatched during nesting period October 2024 to March 20205 which totally laying 2,217 eggs from 123 nests.
“We released the remaining 1,022 back into their habitat,” Joko explained.
According to Joko, all of the hatchlings were handed over by fishermen of Pusung Kapal and the surrounding area between September 2024 and April 2025.
“This period, the number of hatchings, nests, and eggs handed over is higher than last year. This proves that Painted terrapin population on the Seruway coast is stable tend to increase every year,” he explained.
He is also explained that since the conservation efforts began in 2012, totally 6,610 baby terrapin have been successfully released into the wild, where the survivorship was about 1 percent according to newest survey.
Community empowerment
Joko added that regarding community group empowerment, the foundation has continued to provide support since 2017, from increasing group capacity to developing both internal and external potential.
He was explaining that the Foundation has also encouraged the group to obtain management recognition from the government. In 2023, the Pusung Kapal Tourism Awareness Group received a legal approval from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to become a Social Forestry Group (PS HKm) with management rights for approximately 363 hectares of mangrove forest in Ujung Tamiang, part of it is habitat of Painted terrapin and other endangered and protected species.
“Hopefully, this will encourage and positively impact the Pusung Kapal community, especially the group, in its efforts to improve its economy if managed properly. To achieve this, support from all parties is certainly needed,” Joko concluded.
At the event, the Head of the Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), Ujang Wisnu Barata, SHut, MSc, MSi, stated that the Foundation’s activities have been excellent, particularly its efforts to conserve the ciritically endangered species Painted terrapin. The wild release is part of a series of activities commemorating National Nature Conservation Day (HKAN), which falls annually on August 10th.
“Conservation essentially means sustainable management, so what the foundation and its supporting parties, such as the local community, have done is evidence of a sustainable management system,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Regent of Aceh Tamiang, represented by Assistant II to the Regional Secretariat, Drs. Madiah, MPd, in his remarks, expressed his appreciation for the Foundation’s activities, saying they have significantly assisted the government in Painted terrapin conservation efforts.
He stated that the Aceh Tamiang regional government is currently exploring plans for a crocodile farm, as the crocodile population along the Tamiang coast is already large. However, to realize this, the involvement of all parties is needed so that each program can run as planned.
Previously, the Head of Kuala Pusung Kapal Village, Rianto, expressed his gratitude to the foundation for supporting Kuala Pusung Kapal Village in its conservation activities for Painted terrapin and the Community Forestry Group since its inception in 2017. This has led to Kuala Pusung Kapal Village’s recognition at both the local and national levels.
Furthermore, Rianto expressed his hope that the Aceh Tamiang Regency and Seruway District governments would focus on strategic sectors for Kuala Pusung Kapal Village, as this remote village offers significant potential for development, including the Painted terrapin Ecotourism and Mangrove Area.
The event concluded with the presentation of certificates of appreciation and souvenirs to 11 residents who have shown concern for Painted terrapin, as well as the release of Painted terrapin hatchlings.
