Scott Benson, from Jamursba-Medi, Indonesia. The rain finally stopped for good, although the sky remains dark with clouds. During our trek to Warmamedi, we encounter a small crocodile. Our local expert about all living things here at Jamursba-Medi, BKSDA Field Ranger Betuel Samber, tells me that crocs are common along portions of the path we take to the beach each night. Although I’m not concerned about this little crocodile, the knowledge of crocs along our route is new to me. I wonder about the whereabouts of the little guys’ mother, and resolve to keep up with Betuel in the future.

The sand at Warmamedi is hard and cold from the rain that fell during the previous 36 hours. The first leatherback of the night emerges from the sea at 11 p.m. The turtle crawls up the beach, performs a 180 degree turn, and returns back to the sea. This behavior is known as a ‘false crawl’. Our spirits rise with a report of another turtle appearance, but once again the animal turns and moves back into the ocean. The false crawling activity continues all night, each one upsetting our plans to deploy another transmitter. Seven false crawls tonight. Perhaps the sand to too cold and hard for nesting? We walk back to camp demoralized. It’s another Jamursba-Medi sunrise, this time without a dawn turtle. Written on July 24, 2007, in Jamursba-Medi, Indonesia.