Description
The Waru is a primary totem of some of the kinship groups. Waru is Kala lagaw Ya (Western Torres Strait Island dialect) for Turtle. They were a major food sources, and highly highly prized but are now on the verge of extinction due to pollution and over hunting. Before colonisation, Waru played an important cultural role for the Torres Strait communities. Used extensively for ceremonial purposes and as a trading currency, the flake from the turtle back was used to make the Keral (traditional ceremonial mask) and was only hand produced within the Torres Strait Melanesian communities.
