Batu Hiu Beach is a beach-based tourist destination area located in the capital city of Pangandaran Regency which is one of the pioneers of mainstay tourist destinations in Pangandaran Regency. Batu Hiu has a very beautiful natural panorama. With its beauty, this beach is also called the Tanah Lot of West Java which is located in Ciliang Village, Parigi District, Pangandaran Regency which is ± 14.7 km from the Marlin Pangandaran Roundabout to the south which has coordinates 7°41’32.5″S 108°32’19.4″E. This beach has black sand beaches with beach characteristics that have high levels of abrasion and quite large waves. Batu Hiu Beach has a giant rocky hill on which tourism support facilities and facilities have been made, such as access roads, toilets, children’s playgrounds, and also gazebos where tourists can enjoy panoramic views of the beach and sea.
(Journey to Batu Hiu Beach)
When entering the tourist destination area of Batu Shark Beach, after the entrance gate, tourists will immediately be greeted with an alley cave that is built to resemble a shark’s mouth. This gate seems to describe the identity of Batu Hiu Beach and confirms the legend circulating on this beach. The shape of this cave passage is quite real because it is equipped with sharp teeth and is shaped in such a way that it is very similar to a shark. Not only that, under the hill, Batu Hiu Beach still has several other exotic caves, where local residents believe that one between the caves are connected to the cave on the North Coast of Cirebon.
Based on folklore, that in the 11th century a number of exiles from the Mataram kingdom led by Aki Gede and Nini Gede arrived at this place and decided to rest and stay temporarily near the Batuhiu hill. Then Aki Gede and Nini Gede ordered their troops to look for food around the Hill. One of his troops, called Ki Braja Lintang, decided to fish on the beach and caught a shark. When Aki and Nini Gede found out about this, he ordered Ki Braja Lintang to release the fish back into the ocean. When they released it, the shark turned into a large black rock in the shape of a shark and can still be seen today and is called Shark Rock.
Another attraction of Batuhiu Beach is the panoramic view of the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean. Tourists can witness the strong waves crashing against the rocks and the blue sea which soothes the heart and mind. This view will be even more amazing when visiting during the dry season, when the sky is bright blue without clouds and reflects its beauty on the ocean. To enjoy all the greatness of God’s creation, tourists must climb a rocky hill which is the location for the best photo and video spots with an ocean background. Another panorama that should not be missed is the view of the sunset on the western horizon. Moments like these are much awaited by tourists.
There is still more attraction around the Batu Hiu beach tourist destination area, namely turtle breeding conservation educational tours where there are several types of turtles that are bred in captivity. Tourists can see firsthand one of the rare fauna in Indonesia and it is also included in the endangered category. . Batu Hiu is one of the areas in the Pangandaran Java Coastal area which is the location where sea turtles land each year. Currently, sea turtles are included in the category of endangered animals and efforts need to be made for their preservation.
Overview of Turtles in Indonesia
Turtles are sea turtles that are found in all oceans in the world, of which only seven types of turtles currently survive, namely:
- Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
- Kemp’s ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempi)
- Olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)
- Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
- Flatback turtle (Natator depressus)
- Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
Pangandaran Regency is home to 5 of the 7 species of sea turtles in the world. The Conservation International (CI) report states that the number of leatherback turtles has fallen from around 115,000 adult females to less than 3,000 since 1982. Leatherback turtles have decreased by 97% in the last 22 years. In addition, five species of turtles are also at risk of extinction, although not in a short period of time like the leatherback turtle.
Almost all types of turtles are included in the list of animals protected by national and international laws because they are feared to become extinct due to their decreasing number. Apart from the leatherback turtle, two other species, the Kemp’s Ridley turtle and the hawksbill turtle are also classified as critically endangered by The World Conservation Union (IUCN). The green turtle (Chelonia mydas), olive ridley or gray turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), and loggerhead or loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) are classified as endangered. Only the flatback turtle (Natator depressus) is not thought to be threatened.
Turtles are one of the rare primeval stars in the world and their existence is protected by law. Turtles can lay eggs when they are over 25 years old, turtle egg incubation ranges from a week to two months and turtles can be up to hundreds of years old. To keep turtles in captivity, water must be changed every day and turtles are very sensitive to their sense of smell and will get stressed easily if handled. The existence of a turtle hatchery on Batu Hiu Beach is an effort to protect and preserve the existence of turtles from the threat of extinction, along with increasing the massive poaching of turtle eggs and meat which are sold and consumed by the public.
The Turtle Conservation Area at Batu Hiu Beach has several facilities that can be utilized by tourists, including a turtle nesting incubation room, hatchery, quarantine room, guard post, information room, laboratory to a park equipped with gazebos facing the sea.
The establishment of this turtle hatchery began when many Leatherback Turtles (Dermochelys sp) were found in Pangandaran waters starting in 1963, along with that the community’s interest also increased so that turtle hunting for consumption purposes, as well as just a hobby for turtles for commercial purposes, grew from his concern for In the early 80’s, Mr. Didin Syaefudin was mobilized to prevent the community from over-exploiting marine animals which are currently protected. Armed with determination, socialization efforts to the local community were carried out through a persuasive approach, from door to door, from person to person and including approaching fishermen, including those whose nets (trawlers) accidentally caught turtles. With all this commitment to conservation efforts, he eventually built a simple turtle egg hatchery on the basis of self-help and self-funding which is located 500 meters from Batu Shark Beach which can be reached on foot ± 10-15 minutes to the coordinate point 7°41’32.1″S 108°32’02.1″E. The tireless efforts led to success, some sympathy from fishermen and the local community supported Pak Didin’s efforts to protect turtles and their habitat. In the end, a conservation institution was legalized through a notary with the name Batu Hiu Marine Biota Conservation Group (KPBL) and its existence was recognized by the Indonesian Ministry of Environment.
After the 2006 Tsunami that hit Pangandaran, Batu Hiu beach was one of the areas affected by the great storm. The breeding site that was built earlier was heavily damaged and could only save two turtles from the raging tsunami. However, the determination never faded, efforts to save turtle eggs, egg turtles rescue, were carried out in a very simple way, using a soap box measuring 1 x 60 cm. The eggs were incubated in it, and thankfully this effort was successful. that limited.
Pak Didin Syaefudin’s struggle with his colleagues did not stop here. The scope of the institution’s activities is not only to save turtles from the hands of the ignorant, but more than that, efforts to conserve their habitat also need to be carried out. One day we will still be able to see 5 types of turtle species from 7 species of the world roaming in Pangandaran and its surroundings.
In addition to recreational activities, activities related to religious tourism can also be carried out in the Batu Hiu Beach area, because there are some tourists who often carry out pilgrimage activities at several sites located on the cliffs of Batu Hiu Beach which are sacred to the local community which is a tribute. historical relics of the past.
Tourist facilities and facilities in the Batu Hiu Beach area are in the form of accommodation with the type of cottages and jasmine hotels, then food and drink providers with the type of cafes and beachside stalls and street vendors. Other actual tourism support facilities in this area include public toilets and parking areas for two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles, both mini buses and large buses.
The main road access to reach the Batu Hiu Beach area is in fairly good condition. However, for the Batu Hiu Beach area, repairs still need to be done because there are several holes in the points. Means of transportation that can be used are two-wheeled vehicles and four-wheeled vehicles. For public transportation, there are only inter-city and provincial buses with routes to Pangandaran and can only be used to reach the main road, while to get to the main point of this beach you have to use the services of a motorcycle taxi or walk.
The opportunity that exists for Batu Hiu Beach is that it has an attraction in the form of a panoramic view of the beach that can be enjoyed from the top of the hill. While the obstacles that exist in this attraction are the lack of tourist facilities, infrastructure and facilities in this area, such as the inadequate condition of toilets in this area. In terms of access infrastructure in the area, such as footpaths, it is necessary to repair them because of the damage, and the lighting in this area is still very minimal, so it is difficult to visit this attraction at night.