BANYUWANGI – Banyuwangi Sea Turtle Foundation (BTSF) or known as the Banyuwangi Turtle Foundation, has made new innovations to protect turtle sustainability. This non-profit organization makes turtle replicas. So those who want to own turtles do not need to preserve turtles from nature. It is enough just to buy a replica.
No need to worry, This turtle replica made by the Banyuwangi Turtle Foundation is very similar to the original. Start from shape, colors to the motifs on the scales and legs. Everything is exactly original.
There are four types of turtle replicas made, namely the leatherback turtle, step, hawksbill and green turtles. “Ini merupakan replika empat jenia penyu yang ada Banyuwangi,” kata Ketua Yayasan Penyu Banyuwangi Wiyanto Hadi Tanojo, Thursday (22/11/2018).
The man commonly called Wiwit hopes, with this replica there are no more people who take turtles that live in nature to be preserved. Because, it will damage the sustainability of turtles and the environment.
Since starting to make a replica of the Turtle in the year 2013 then. But at that time they only made replicas of leatherback turtles. The size is also small. New in year 2016 he began to make the large size as it is today. “Tapi kami membuatnya berdasarkan pesanan saja,he explained.
It is hoped that people will become more familiar with the turtle replica made by the Banyuwangi Turtle Foundation. So that the more orders and the more turtles that can be saved. Moreover, the proceeds from the sale of this turtle replica will be used for the activities of the Banyuwangi Turtle Foundation in conducting outreach about turtle conservation and saving turtle eggs.
Replica of this turtle, he continued, made from a resin base with a mixture of mil and a catalyst to harden. Furthermore, the mixture is printed pepper mold that has been made. After it is finished, the turtle replica is painted using the air brush method according to the type of turtle you want.
In this air brush process, the level of difficulty is quite high. Because, the color and pattern must match the original. So that, This turtle replica produced by the Banyuwangi Turtle Foundation is like a preserved original turtle. “Yang paling susah proses pengecatannya adalah penyu sisik dan penyu hijau," he said.
One turtle replica costs Rp 299 thousand. However, a package containing four types of turtles is only priced at Rp 999 thousand. “Untuk replika jenis penyu belimbing yang kecil harganya Rp 125 thousand," he concluded.