FWD: Three turtle nests in Dungun bring new hope

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Friday, July 11, 2003

Three turtle nests in Dungun bring new hope

BY K. SUTHAKAR

 

DUNGUN: The discovery of three leatherback nests with a total of 257 eggs on the

Dungun coast here in the past month has boosted the hopes of conservationists

over the future of the giant reptiles.

 

It has certainly caused excitement following predictions that the largest

marine turtle, known by its scientific name Dermocheyls coriacea, is on the road

to extinction in Rantau Abang.

 

Turtle and Marine Ecosystem Centre (Tumec) director Kamaruddin Ibrahim said the

first nesting was discovered in Tanjung Sura here at 10pm on June 18.

 

The second was found in Rantau Abang at 1am on June 27 and the third in Tanjung

Jara, near Rantau Abang, at 3am last Saturday.

 

& #147;There were 94 eggs in the first nest, 104 in the second and 59 in the

third.

 

& #147;Based on the time and place of nesting, we believe two nests came from

one turtle and the third from another, & #148; he said yesterday in an interview.

 

Kamaruddin said the centre was unable to ascertain whether the two turtles were

new to the area or old ones making a return journey.

 

& #147;We can ascertain whether a turtle is a new one by inspecting the tagging

at the hind flippers as we have tagged all turtles which have nested in Rantau

Abang.

 

& #147;Upon being informed of the first nesting in Tanjung Sura, our personnel

immediately rushed over but were unable to locate the place in time, & #148; he

said.

 

Kamaruddin said the centre was on the lookout for more landings as a turtle

could nest up to five times per season.

 

& #147;The discovery of the landings has also shown that predictions on nesting

could be wrong at times, & #148; he added.

 

 

 

The 257 eggs are being incubated at the hatchery in Rantau Abang.

 

Kamaruddin said the incubation period was about 40 days but it was too early to

ascertain whether the eggs were fertilised.

 

There were fears, he added, that there might not be any hatchlings because of

the imbalance between male and female turtles in the sea.

 

 

 

In March, turtle scientist Prof Dr Chan Eng Heng had predicted that the marine

turtles would cease to nest in Malaysia this year.

 

She said the prediction was based on the zero discovery of eggs in Rantau Abang

last year although three landings were detected during the nesting season

between April and October.

 

 

 

Dr Chan, who lectures at the University College of Science and Technology in

Kuala Terengganu, predicted the zero nesting based on a mathematical formula.

 

She said the three landings last year paled in comparison with the 10,000

recorded in the 1960s.

 

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