Turtle Ranger Patrol and Education Program

Since 2024, Ecosystem Bumi has partnered with Ecosystem Impact and the local government to protect the highly threatened Leatherback Sea Turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) and Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) on Bangkaru Island, part of the Sumatra Islands in Indonesia.

Ecosystem Impact’s mission is to save turtles and other species from the brink of extinction, enhance ecosystem resilience, and create opportunities for local communities to benefit from their involvement in conservation efforts.

Building on our success in protecting over 1,200 sea turtle nests during the first nine months (July 2024 – March 2025), we are committed to strengthening the program by expanding our Ranger Team. This expansion will enhance our efforts to monitor and protect sea turtle populations, ensuring their long-term survival.

During this period, we also engaged 190 elementary and high school students in environmental education sessions. Moving forward, we plan to extend these sessions to new areas, including Along (Simeulue Island), while continuing our program in Haloban (Banyak Island). By diversifying our educational approach, which combines classroom learning with hands-on field experiences, we aim to raise awareness and deepen local understanding of environmental conservation.

Through these combined efforts, our goal is to empower local communities with the knowledge and tools to protect their environment for the long term.

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Why Is The Turtle Ranger Team Important?

Bangkaru Island, a remote area located off the northwest coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, is a vital sanctuary for some of the world’s most endangered sea turtles and is one of the largest nesting sites for both Green and Leatherback Sea Turtles. These sea turtles lay eggs on the island 365 nights a year, with an estimated over 80,000 hatchlings. However, they face threats from poaching, plastic pollution, and predators. Their decline could trigger cascading effects on other species and the balance of ocean life due to their critical role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems.

Through this Program, Ecosystem Bumi supports 3 Rangers to protect sea turtle populations through conducting patrols and monitoring, collecting data on nesting and hatching, as well as reporting and responding to direct or urgent action that is needed on site (sea turtle poaching, entanglement, trapped, or casualties).

Bangkaru Turtle Rangers Activities

Conducting 15-morning and 8-night patrols every month during nesting and hatching season to protect sea turtles and their nests, as well as organizing beach cleanup every morning. Each patrol session will be done by three (3) separate rangers.
Collecting and tracking sea turtle nest data with the GPS and SMART Patrol Apps, which include information on GPS coordinates, total number of turtle eggs, carapace length measurements of both adult and hatchling turtles, nest photos, and records of nests poached by humans or predators.
Participate as conservation guardians in community engagement and environmental education with the local communities.
Report and respond when direct or urgent action is needed on site (sea turtles poaching, entanglement, trapped, or casualties).

Why Education Matters?

To ensure long-term environmental protection, it is essential to equip local communities with knowledge about the environmental challenges in their area. By raising awareness, particularly among the youth, we can empower these communities to foster a sense of responsibility to ensure long-term environmental conservation.

Ecosystem Bumi supports one (1) Education Officer and two (2) Local Teachers based in Along and Haloban to conduct and facilitate educational activities. These tailored sessions cover topics such as English language, wildlife, biodiversity, and environmental issues, combined with hands-on experiences like birdwatching and sea turtle monitoring. Additionally, the Ranger team will play a key role in facilitating sea turtle conservation activities for the students.

Haloban and Along Education Activities

A total of 180 dynamic learning sessions will take place from July 2025 to December 2026 across 10 schools, with two in Haloban and eight in Along, featuring a range of educational activities as follows:

Tailored Education Sessions:

Focus on English language skills and birdwatching activities.
Additional turtle conservation sessions specifically for Along.

Student Progress Monitoring:

Pre-surveys at the start of the program.
Post-surveys at the end to assess learning outcomes.

English Classes

English classes are crucial for students in remote areas to access global opportunities. Our classes are designed to be engaging and interactive, making learning both fun and effective.

Birdwatching

Bangkaru’s forests and surrounding islands are home to some of the world’s rarest bird species, making the Birdwatching Sessions crucial for introducing students to the island’s rich biodiversity.

Beach Clean Ups

Through Beach Cleanups, students learn firsthand how waste affects ecosystems and the importance of taking action to protect them.

Sea Turtle Conservation Classes

Sea Turtle Conservation Classes are essential for educating students about the vital role turtles play in marine ecosystems and the threats they face, such as habitat loss and poaching.

Bangkaru’s Rich Biodiversity: A Sanctuary for Unique Wildlife

Bangkaru Island is more than a nesting ground for Leatherback and Green Sea Turtles; it is a biodiversity hotspot. The island's forests are home to some of the world’s rarest bird species, adding to its ecological significance.

On land, monitor lizards patrol the forest floor, while various snake species maintain ecological balance. Along the coastline, saltwater crocodiles navigate the estuaries, and beneath the waves, vibrant coral reefs and lush seagrass beds are filled with marine life, from colorful fish and reef sharks to even dugongs.

This unique blend of habitats makes Bangkaru a vital sanctuary for diverse wildlife, highlighting the importance of its conservation.

Here are some wildlife photos captured by our ranger team during their recent patrols on Bangkaru.

Meet The Rangers

Adoption Certificate

ADOPT

Leatherback Turtle

$45

ADOPT

Green Turtle

$25

Turtles lay around an average of up to 90 eggs per nest. By symbolically adopting a turtle and/or a nest, you directly support the Turtle Ranger Patrol Program, including participating in protecting the endangered species and marine ecosystem on Bangkaru Island, Indonesia. Your generous contribution plays a vital role in ensuring the well-being of the nests and hatchlings of these magnificent creatures and their habitat. Each adoption comes with a personalized certificate, showing your commitment to sea turtle conservation.

Support Our Education Activities

To ensure the successful implementation of our educational activities, we provide students with English classes and tailored learning experiences. These require essential materials and equipment such as books, binoculars, informational boards about waste, sea turtle field class supplies, and rewards for outstanding students. Your contribution is vital to sustaining long-term environmental education and conservation efforts.

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