Otters Spotted in the Wild (Terengganu River)

Today I was doing my usual, loading Pelangi's supplies. As I was loading the supplies, from the corner of my eye, I noticed some "rat" looking animal dashed and entered the water... It swam past me, under the water but from a quick glance, it looked like an otter.

At first, I doubt it was an otter, as the otters that I have seen are all on TV and it is always in a river where these little cute rascals are running around in the wild... hmm.... then again this is a river.... a very polluted, but still a river.... hmm...

Anyway, these little rascal look really cute in real life. Sorry, but that is the best quality from my phone camera.

Eric

Turtle Conservation Center

Do you know that?

"For sea turtles, fisheries bycatch is the most serious, acute threat to the persistence of their populations,"

"Anywhere from 5 to 20 pounds of bycatch -- turtles, fish, mammals, invertebrates, coral -- is removed from the ocean to catch enough for just a pound of shrimp,"

Read more about it here

We are taking this opportunity to urge you to help us in helping the turtles! Visit the Turtle Conservation Center today! You can help in buying the merchandise, or adopt one of the terrapins!

EL

Plan for Redang!

See here:
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/4/9/nation/6023260&sec=nation

Our dear Menteri Besar has GREAT plan for Redang!

As a resort operator, we also wish that we could increase the price, to as high as USD 500, however have the MB considered this affordable to Malaysians? What will happen to travelling within Malaysia? Does he think that we will be able to attract more foreigners?

Travelling should be affordable to all, and should cater for all markets. We should NOT discriminate lower market travellers.

Backpackers will cry, no one will come to Redang and we will all be in trouble!

No proper seawage system? NO proper electricity supply? No proper water supply!?
yes, government, you should do something about it!

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Pulau Redang aims to lure the rich with room rates no less than RM1,600

By R.S.N. MURALI

newsdesk@thestar.com.my

KUALA TERENGGANU: Pulau Redang — rated as one of the world’s most beautiful islands — is set to be turned into a getaway exclusively for the rich and famous.

Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said said the state government would no longer approve the construction of chalet-type accommodation on the renowned island, which is much visited by the diving community.

“Only hotels rated five-star and above will be allowed to be built,” he said when met after the state assembly sitting here yesterday.

In future, only wealthy individuals would be able to afford holidays in Pulau Redang as hotel rooms will cost no less than US$500 (RM1,599) a night, Ahmad said.

He that said with the decision to turn the island into a high-end holiday destination, current chalets catering for backpackers would have to upgrade and raise their rates.

Asked if the move would draw criticism from non-governmental organisations, Ahmad said it was the only way to save the surrounding rich marine life and prevent environmental destruction due to pollution and indiscriminate littering.

“Some of the budget accommodation places on the island have no proper sewage system and waste is directed to the sea, and this destroys the corals,” he said.

Apart from that, Pulau Redang is a jewel for Terengganu and the 10th most beautiful island in the world, Ahmad said.

“Efforts must be made to save the island from deteriorating environmentally. Those on budget excursions can visit other islands like Pulau Kapas and Pulau Perhentian that are equally charming.”

Pulau Redang, a popular holiday destination for locals as well as foreigners, attracts about 100,000 visitors annually including many who flock there to visit the marine park.

Terengganu Tourist Association deputy president Alex Lee lauded the move, saying that it was time for Malaysia to create its own niche market.

“Redang has only one five-star hotel and others are mostly budget accomodations,” he said.

He believed the move by Ahmad was initiated out of concern for the environment as damage to the corals had been extensive.

The owner of an eight-room hotel in Redang, however, was worried that his livelihood would be affected if Pulau Redang became an exclusive holiday destination.

He said the move would affect many holidaymakers, both local and foreign, who would not be able to afford to stay in Pulau Redang if the state government went ahead with the niche market proposal.

“I hope the state government will meet budget hotel and chalet operators in Redang to get our views and include us in the planning,” said the man, who wanted to be known only as Dina,

He also said the state government should ensure there was proper drainage and sewage on the island for better waste disposal.

Another chalet operator, Nik Kamal Nik Husin, 43, said the move would only burden the villagers on the island as many were renting out rooms to budget travellers.

He also said only a handful of irresponsible chalet operators were directing the waste into the sea.

The state government, he said, should build a centralised sewage treatment to deal with the waste disposal problem.