[Please click on the above image to view the poster in full size]
In our previous post, we talked about the turtle and and the difference between the the sea turtle, terrapins and tortoises. Read previous posts here. In today's post we look into the sea turtles.
As per the image above, there are basically there are 7 types of Sea Turtles. 5 out of the 7 turtles stated are already on the endangered list. Scary if you asked me... and the remaining 2 is not doing too well either.
Here in Malaysia, only 4 of these turtles nest on our shores.
Back then, if you were to walk down those beaches, you'll probably be able to see a few nesting each night.... Well for the most of us, that is only a memory.... I personally have never seen one, and was told I probably won't have the opportunity to see a leatherback ever again... on our shores anyway....
Recently in the 2008, only 2 leatherback turtles nested at Rantau Abang, compared to once not too long ago of 10,000; formerly one of the world largest.
I guess with all these excessive consumption of turtle eggs as a local delicacy has not helped either. Also some of the earlier turtle hatching program wasn't as successful as the gender of the turtles are determined by the temperature of its nests. Failing to understand this has caused a series of same gender turtles to be released back to nature, causing an imbalance in the gender ratio.
At the end of the day, the extinction of these
animals are due to human interaction. Whether it is excessive consumption of turtle eggs, or rapid human development near their breeding grounds, it has clearly shown to cause the declination of these sea turtles. We'll have another article about the threats to sea turtles within the next few days. Stay tuned...
As per the image above, there are basically there are 7 types of Sea Turtles. 5 out of the 7 turtles stated are already on the endangered list. Scary if you asked me... and the remaining 2 is not doing too well either.
Here in Malaysia, only 4 of these turtles nest on our shores.
- The leatherback turtle (penyu belimbing)
- The green turtle (penyu agar or penyu pulau)
- The hawksbill turtle (penyu sisik or penyu karah)
- The olive-ridley turtle (penyu lipas)
Back then, if you were to walk down those beaches, you'll probably be able to see a few nesting each night.... Well for the most of us, that is only a memory.... I personally have never seen one, and was told I probably won't have the opportunity to see a leatherback ever again... on our shores anyway....
Recently in the 2008, only 2 leatherback turtles nested at Rantau Abang, compared to once not too long ago of 10,000; formerly one of the world largest.
I guess with all these excessive consumption of turtle eggs as a local delicacy has not helped either. Also some of the earlier turtle hatching program wasn't as successful as the gender of the turtles are determined by the temperature of its nests. Failing to understand this has caused a series of same gender turtles to be released back to nature, causing an imbalance in the gender ratio.
[Please click on the above image to view the poster in full size]
Here we have a poster of the life cycle of the Sea Turtles. As you can see, it takes about 20-50 years for the turtles to mature before being able to return and mate. And of 1000 hatchilings, only ONE will survice to maturity... Such a low survival rate..... I guess the ocean is truly a harsh environment to live and grow up....
More laws, conservation activitie as we all as awareness programmes should in place to help protect these near extinct majestic creatures.
If you would like to learn more about Sea Turtles, please attend a talk given by Assoc. Prof. Liew Hock Chark on the 30th Sept during our Marine Awareness 2011 program. There would be a site visit to the turtle sanctuary at Chagar Hutang, Redang on the 1st Oct.
If you enjoy and find this article useful, please help by sharing it with your friends to help raise awareness of the declination of Sea Turtles here in Malaysia.
Reference
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