A Chinese national has been arrested in Indonesia after allegedly spearing a critically endangered hawksbill turtle and cooking it for a meal at his homestay in Raja Ampat, one of the country’s most protected marine conservation areas.
What Happened: Timeline of the Raja Ampat Turtle Case
The incident reportedly took place between September 8 and 11, 2026, near Keruwo Homestay on Pam (Fam) Island in Raja Ampat, West Papua. The exact spot was a reef area located between Ormandira Homestay to the north and Rufas to the south.
According to Kompol Jenny SA Hengkelare, spokesperson for the West Papua Regional Police, the suspect, a foreign tourist identified by the initials WS, also known as Wilson Shang, allegedly hunted a sea turtle using a speargun.
The animal killed was a hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), a critically endangered species protected under Indonesian law within the Raja Ampat marine conservation zone.
Investigators say Shang dove with two other individuals during the hunt. Photo and video evidence, along with other digital records, are now being reviewed as part of the investigation. Police stated that the footage under review appears to show the speargun aimed at the turtle’s neck, ultimately killing the animal.
From Ocean to Dinner Table
After the turtle was killed, it was reportedly transported to the homestay, where it was cooked and eaten. Officials noted that additional documentation shows the sequence of events that followed, the turtle being brought ashore, prepared, and consumed.
Police have emphasized that all evidence is still undergoing verification. A joint team has since been deployed to investigate both the homestay and the underwater site linked to the alleged turtle hunt.
Raja Ampat Police Chief AKBP Boma Wedhayanto Purnomo confirmed that investigators are working to verify the facts and ensure the case is handled properly under Indonesian law.
Arrested While Attempting to Leave the Country
Wei Shang was apprehended on September 14 at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar, reportedly just before boarding a flight to Malaysia. Immigration officials confirmed he was intercepted while preparing to depart on AirAsia flight AK335, bound for Kuala Lumpur from Makassar.
Case to Proceed Under Full Legal Process
West Papua Regional Police Chief Brigjen Hengki Haryadi confirmed that the case involving the protected species will be pursued professionally and in accordance with legal procedures. He noted that investigators are still gathering evidence, questioning witnesses, and coordinating with relevant agencies to establish the full facts of the case.
The hawksbill turtle is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN, and hunting or killing the species is a serious criminal offense under Indonesian wildlife protection law, particularly within a designated marine conservation area like Raja Ampat.
