MY - Rare turtles make a comeback

August 9, 2005

The Star

Saturday August 6, 2005

Rare turtles are back in Pantai Kerteh

BY K. SUTHAKAR

KUALA TERENGGANU: For the first time this year, a leatherback nest has been

found in Terengganu, causing much excitement among conservationists.

The nest of 90 eggs was discovered on Tuesday at Pantai Kerteh in Kemaman by

an egg collector, who sold them to the Rantau Abang-based Turtle and Marine

Ecosystem Centre (Tumec).

It was also the first time that such a nest was found on the beach, which is

one of 34 turtle nesting sites in the state.

Tumec head Kamaruddin Ibrahim was excited over the discovery which he said

was also good news for the state government.

This was especially so, he added, following predictions that the leatherback

– the most endangered species among turtles – was close to extinction in

Malaysia.

He said Tumec had begun patrols along the beach to ensure that the turtles

did not get entangled in fishing nets when they returned to nest again.

“We expect the female to nest at least another four times this season,” he

said, noting that leatherbacks nested up to 10 times per season from June to

October.

Kamaruddin said the centre seized two drift nets in the coastal waters off

the Kerteh beach on Thursday.

Although the use of such nets, which are dangerous to turtles, had been

banned nationwide since 1990, fishermen were still using them, he added.

According to him, Tumec was now paying egg collectors RM2.50 for each

leatherback egg compared with RM1.80 last year.

Last year, five leatherback nests with a total of 295 eggs were found in

Tanjung Sura, Kuala Dungun and Kampung Jambu Bongkok, all in Dungun, he

said.

However, none of the eggs hatched, probably because they had not been

fertilised, as there were fewer male turtles compared to females, Kamaruddin

said.

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