TUTURUGA: THE CALM AND RESILIENT SEA TURTLE

In the beautiful waters of Bunaken National Park lives a graceful and beloved marine creature—the sea turtle, locally known as Tuturuga. These turtles have existed for millions of years; they were already swimming in the oceans during the age of the dinosaurs!

According to the official Bunaken National Park website, three species of sea turtles inhabit the park’s waters: the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas), the Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), and the Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea).

Tuturuga is not like a fish. It moves slowly, yet with purpose. With a hard shell to protect its body and powerful flippers for swimming, the sea turtle symbolizes both serenity and the strength of nature.

Tuturuga has lived on Earth for over 100 million years, making it one of the oldest surviving marine creatures. It’s also an exceptional swimmer—capable of crossing vast oceans from one continent to another in search of food or nesting grounds.

On a quiet night in Bunaken, visitors may be lucky enough to witness a moving sight—a female turtle slowly crawling ashore, digging a nest in the sand with her flippers, and laying her eggs. The sound of waves serves as a gentle soundtrack, while the moonlight illuminates this extraordinary natural ritual.

Female sea turtles return to the very beach where they once hatched to lay their own eggs. Even after traveling thousands of kilometers across the sea, they can still find their way back home!

Love for the sea turtle lives not only in the ocean but has also been brought ashore—into the Passenger Terminal Playroom at Manado Port. Through a child- and eco-friendly terminal program, Pelindo has created educational murals featuring sea creatures like the turtle and the coelacanth, so children can begin learning about marine life from an early age.