CENDRAWASIH NATIONAL PARK INDONESIATrip with Jim Leape &Claudio Segre

A Photo Journal By Lida Pet-Soede

After several flights hopping the islands of Indonesia’s extensive archipelago, we arrived at Wasior in Papua, where WWF has a Field Station and where we stepped on the Gurano Bintang education boat.

The Gurano Bintang – whale shark in the local language – would be our floating home for a few days. It tours the largest (>1.4 million ha) Marine National Park in Indonesia, providing environmental education for local schools.

Mr Segre is welcomed at Napan Yaur village, where a community conservation cadre of 20 people protect their bay and surrounding waters.

The traditional welcome includes placing our feet on the sand, which symbolizes that we are friends. We also danced around the communal area a few times, accompanied by thundering drums and many kids.

The local band sings about the importance of the ocean and reefs and we enjoy a “light” snack, which includes three types of starchy Sago AND grilled un-ripe bananas.

The women check out the “crazy bamboo” dance.

The community asks us to consider replacing their dysfunctional alternative energy system and options for small-scale ecotourism activities around their village.

As we leave, the kids from Napan Yaur guide us out of the beautiful bay.

Back on board we get a briefing by the field team and WWF whale shark coordinator, Cassandra, about their work with Brent Steward on whale shark migration and needs for conservation of these gentle giants.

The lift net fishers, who operate their nets and lights at night to catch small pelagic fish, know the whale sharks well as these gentle giants circle their boat platforms for an easy meal.

It takes only a second to put on our snorkel gear and we swim with these magnificent creatures for hours.

Jim Leape and Lida in a close encounter with the whale shark as it enjoys its break fast.

The water is so clear that we see the whale sharks come up from the deep to get a snack of yesterday’s catch.

Mr Segre, Lida, and the whale shark.

Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are slow-moving filter feeders and the largest known fish species.

Whale sharks move so effortlessly. The largest recorded individual is almost 13 meters. This one must be about 7 meters.

Three whale sharks moving about with large remoras (suckerfish).

It feels like I entered a completely different magical world.

In Cendrawasih National Park, the coastal ecosystems are mostly intact. Coastal flats and mangroves are important fish nursery grounds.

Place caption here A nice option to come back to with my family—Kali Lemon Homestay: www.hiniotanibre.com

A quiet coastal village near Roon. Local children will come aboard Gurano Bintang for a lesson on sea turtles.

More than 1,000 children (and some of their parents) have joined the WWF environmental education program in Cendrawasih so far.

The children learn why sea turtles are important to protect; sing songs about the ocean; and jump overboard to swim home after a healthy snack.

This village uses sea turtles traditionially, but the children are keen to tell their parents to protect these majestic creatures from now on.

Our trip to the Bali tuna harbor illustrates how many boats operate around Indonesia. Many of them now use circle hooks to avoid catching sea turtles.

We visit the export facility of a significant WWF Seafood Saver partner.

Jim Leape and Efransjah discuss the reasons for the owner’s fisheries sustainability program, which now supports >6000 fishers throughout Eastern Indonesia.

Lunch is a responsibly-caught steamed coral trout. This is only the second time ever I ate this type of fish. It is exquisite indeed!

The Bali Turtle Conservation and Education Centre: http://tcec-bali.org/ Here the Serangan community with help of GusWindia Adnyana and his students from Udayana University supports turtle conservation at the grass roots level.

Mr Segre tells Tetha how he remembers swimming with sea turtles, and how these beautiful ocean creatures are so terribly threathened while they harm no one.

A fish whisperer and her children. Will we continue to have enough fish to feed coastal communities?

http://www.wwf.or.id/en/about_wwf/whatwedo/marine_species/where_we_work/core_site/cendrawasih/