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Six species of marine turtle are found in Indonesian waters but there is a relative lack of documentation regarding nesting of the olive ridley turtle (Lepoidochelys olivacea) in Indonesia, locally known as 'penyu lekang'.

During the period 1992-1996, various studies were conducted by members of the Indonesian Marine Turtle Specialist Group, on the breeding population of olive ridley turtles at Marengan Beach, Alas Purwo National Park, Banyuwangi, East Java. The park is located at the most eastern tip of Java, close to the island of Bali.

Between September 1992 and August 1993, 101 olive ridley nests were recorded in Alas Purwo National Park (Purnamawati 1994). A slightly larger number was recorded between March and October 1995, with 162 nests laid in this region (Hutabarat 1996). In this season nesting peaked in July 1995. In 1996, between April and June, 169 clutches were recorded (Suwelo & Hutabarat 1996).

Mean clutch size recorded was 98 eggs in 1992/1993 and 104 eggs in 1995. Mean curved carapace lengths of nesting females were 67.5cm and 66.7cm in these two seasons respectively.

Continuation of this research will be necessary before any conclusions can be drawn regarding population trends.

HUTABARAT, H.P. 1996. A study on nesting, rearing and morphometrics of the olive ridley turtle at Alas Purwo National Park. Biological Study Programme, Faculty of Post-graduate Universities, Indonesia, Jakarta.

PURNAMAWATI. M. 1994. Study on Biological aspects of the olive ridley turtle at Alas Purwo Natural Park. Faculty of Fisheries, Bogor Agricultural Universities, Bogor.

SUWELO, I.S. & H.P. HUTABARAT. 1996. The olive ridley turtle in Alas Purwo National Park, South Banyuwangi. Preliminary Results. Workshop of Marine Turtle Research and Management. Jember, 18-22 November, 1996.