leatherback turtles

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On Monday 19.2.01 a leatherback made an unexpected landing on the beach at

Pantai Cahaya Bulan in Kelantan. The age of the turtle, estimated to weigh

more than 400kg, is unknown. While appearing to be in good health, the

turtle appeared very tired after being continually harrased by curious

villagers the night before. When the animal was discovered, villagers had

blocked the path, trapping the animal there for the entire night. Although

the animal appeared to be about to lay eggs, the Fisheries staff and

villagers pushed the turtle back into the sea as it was already almost noon

and too late to lay eggs due to the heat. More than 10 hours after it had

landed. The animal was apparently dehydrated due to the heat and disoriented

by the human presence.

 

 

From The Star 21.2.01.

 

 

Excited by the prospect of leatherback turtle landings at Pantai Cahaya

Bulan in Kelantan, the state Fisheries Department has sought the

co-operation of villagers and beach resort operators to dim lights and make

the beach more conducive for nesting females.

 

The community is anticipating the return of the 2m leatherback which tried

to nest on Monday and is expected to return soon to lay its clutch of eggs.

 

According to scientific statistics, turtles can nest an average of eight

times a season and observe a 10-day inter-nesting period. " The community is

required to inform the department immediately of any landings so that

appropriate action can be taken. " We had an informal dialogue with them and

advised them on the do's and don'ts when they encounter a nesting turtle.

They are not supposed to disturb an animal that is nesting, prevent it from

returning to the sea, harvest the eggs or use flashlight for photography, "

said the Fisheries Department director. He said the department would be

better prepared for future landings, whereby measurements would be taken and

arrangements made to transfer eggs to the nearest hatchery for incubation.

Unlike Terengganu, Kelantan does not accord legal protection to turtles and

the department would have to invoke the Fisheries Act l985 to implement

minimal enforcement.

 

Turtle scientist Dr. Chan Eng Heng of SEATRU, University College Terengganu,

called for the formation of a network to handle stranding of turtles as more

and more leatherbacks were shifting their nesting sites from Rantau Abang,

Terengganu.

 

" The network, preferably headed by the Fisheries Department, can train staff

to handle such situations which are becoming frequent as far as leatherbacks

are concerned. It should include an alert and notification protocol

involving villagers, the department and scientists to take appropriate

measures, " she said.

 

World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia animal species unit head Dr. Dionysius

Sharma said a stranding network would eliminate a lot of adverse actions

which would put unnecessary stress on stranded animals.

 

From the photograph published in newspapers, he said it seemed that someone

had spray painted some words on the turtle shell and the action was

tantamount to harassment.

 

 

 

 

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