24 – 28 November 2009
The leatherback conservation efforts in Kei is implemented by WWF-Indonesia through a local, community-based NGO (SIRaN) since 2003. In July this year, a one-man all around staff from WWF, Marthen Leuna aka Ateng, started his full time work here.
WWF Indonesia Ateng Leuna took GPS data of every turtle (mostly green & leatherback) we saw in the water
There is much conservation work to do in Kei. We got a visit from Dewi Satriani, communications manager of the marine programme of WWF Indonesia Jakarta office. This was her first visit to Kei and together with a SIRaN staff Flavi, they gave a turtle lecture to a group of kids by the beach of the village.
Dewi Satriani brought turtle education posters to tell the story of turtle life cycle to the kids of Kei.
We must not forget The FLAG! Dewi & Flavi with the kids of Kei and the Freund Factory
We all visited another Pulau Mas live reef fish trade (LRFT) floating cage from Kei. In the hour we were there fishermen came to the facility to sell quite big sized groupers.
WWF visits a Pulau Mas floating cage. Pulau Mas is a strong advocate of sustainable fishing practices
On the 28th was Eid al-Adha or Lebaran Hajj or Hari Raya Haji “Hajj celebration day”.
The early morning sun illuminated this Muslim woman all in white on her way to the Mosque
Eid al-Adha occurs the day after the pilgrims conducted Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia by Muslims worldwide. Dewi has been to Mecca and is a Hajj or Hajjah. Our visit to the Mosque of Danar was made all the more interesting with Dewi telling us the significance of this day Hari Raya Hajj.
Dewi with the King & Queen of Danar
There are 23 kings in Kei and yes, the Kerajaan Danar has a king — Bapak Raja Danar H. Muhamad Hanubun. He welcomed us to his village to take pictures of their prayers and the slaughter of a cow afterwards — an offering of a richer man to seven people. Here are some images from that morning and we’ve decided to keep all the blood out of this entry. Let’s have prayers end our entry for Kei Island.
Lebaran Hajj is a high celebration. And at 8am, everyone in the village were in the Mosque for prayers.
Women mostly in white inside the Mosque of Danar
Solemn and together, the men from Danar pray to Allah
Soon after the last prayers are over, the women from this little kingdom of Danar take their leave
