Author Topic: Empty nests at turtle sanctuary (Read 319 times)

Andy · « **on:** September 11, 2008, 10:27:51 AM »

A reader's letter today in The Star paper

Thursday September 11, 2008
Empty nests at sanctuary

DURING my recent travel to your country, I visited a turtle sanctuary in Terengganu. I had a wonderful time as a volunteer and learned many things about these critically endangered animals.

The first thing I found shocking was the fact that your entire country has only two leatherback turtles nesting, both of which lay unfertilised clutches. This clearly demonstrates that there are no male leatherback turtles in your region, and only two female turtles left.

I was told the dramatic population decline was a result of slaughter in other countries, boat strikes, ocean debris, entanglement in fishing nets and egg poaching.

To my horror, when I went to the market I clearly saw and photographed several stalls selling turtle eggs for the very small price of RM2.50. My time volunteering at the turtle sanctuary helped me recognise those eggs as having come from the green turtle.

The green turtle is listed as endangered in the Red Data book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature-IUCN.

So as an interested civilian I wanted to contribute to the conservation of these magnificent reptiles by volunteering my time to help biologists and staff at the turtle sanctuary. Imagine my surprise when excavating turtle nests, we found that nests that clearly stated large numbers of turtle eggs had no eggs present at all. Nest after nest was in the same condition.

Clearly there is suspicious behaviour going on here. After all, why would anyone place a sign in a nest stating the species name, number of eggs, date and time of egg collection if they did not actually put any eggs in the nest?

The reality hit me then that one or more than one member of the staff at the sanctuary was poaching turtle eggs.

My next realisation was that if this behaviour continues, the green turtle, already listed as endangered, may become extinct from Malaysia as the leatherback turtle is bound to be.

These ancient, charismatic reptiles have roamed the oceans for millions of years. They hold a valuable place in the ecosystems of several tropical and sub-tropical countries. I hope that this matter will be investigated by the relevant authorities and appropriate action taken against the perpetrator(s), because if left unchecked, it tarnishes the image of your country and all the excellent conservation work carried out so far will go to waste.

DANIEL ZETAH,
Lower Longley, Australia.

jgshuwei · « **Reply #1 on:** September 11, 2008, 01:00:21 PM »

Shark fin is something more expensive, turtle's egg is cheaper, therefore more demand.

It's time MUW make another T-Shirt about stop buying turtle's egg.

freckled70 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 11, 2008, 01:54:43 PM »

150% agreed with jgshuwei...we stick poster at wet pasar payang and wet siti khadijah..now start campaign with MUW shirt

Empty nests at turtle sanctuary