Ways you can help save Terrapins and Turtles

We can all do our parts to help save and conserve terrapins and turtles. The above image summaries what we should and shouldn't do. But above all, we could all help by simply raising awareness.

You could also show your support to the following turtle conservation programmes

Puchasing fund raising merchandise and products

• Turtle Conservation Centre (merchandise)
• SEATRU (merchandise)

Adopt aTurtle or Nest

• SEATRU Turtle Adoption (PDF Form)
• SEATRU Adopt a Nest (PDF Form)

Volunteer Programme

• SEATRU Volunteer Program (Redang) - link
• Juara Turtle Project (Tioman) - link
• Melaka Hawksbill Volunteer Program
• Perhentian Marine Turtle Volunteer Program - link

If you would like to make a pledge not to consume turtles eggs, please click here.


Reference

• www.turtleconservationcentre.org
• www.umt.edu.my/seatru
• Images provided by Turtle Conservation Centre (TCC) (www.turtleconservationcentre.org/resources/educational-posters)

[Images have been taken and used with permissions from TCC]

Introduction to Sea Turtles

 [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.

• 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)

How many of you guys remembered the images and videos of the 80s and 90s, of huge Leatherback turtles on the shores of Rantau Abang, Terengganu. How many remembered that Terengganu was represented by endless beach with turtle nesting?

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....

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...

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

• www.turtleconservationcentre.org
• www.umt.edu.my/seatru
• Images provided by SEATRU 
• Images provided by Turtle Conservation Centre (TCC) (www.turtleconservationcentre.org/resources/educational-posters)
• Wiki page on sea turtles (link) 

 

[Images have been taken and used with permissions from TCC and SEATRU

Turtle Conservation Centre (TCC) - Introduction

Today we'll be introducing the Turtle Conservation Centre (TCC) based in Setiu, Terengganu. TCC's works include the conservation of turtles, but emphasis is on the river terrapins here in Terengganu.

[Click on image to view in full size]

The following is taken directly from TCC's about us page.

A Brief Introduction
The Turtle Conservation Centre (TCC) was founded in May 2009 by Tan Sri Dr. Salleh Mohd Nor and Dr. Chan Eng Heng who has recently retired from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu. The centre will be located in Setiu, the heartland of important nesting habitats for both painted and river terrapins as well as the green turtle.

Plans for the centre are ambitious. It will have multiple functions as a centre for research, conservation, education and conservation-tourism activities related freshwater, terrestrial and marine turtles in Malaysia. It will also serve as a rescue centre for turtles confiscated from illegal trade. It is envisaged that the centre will bring benefits to the local community in Setiu that has been identified as one of the poorest districts in the country.

Physical facilities for the centre will include an open-air hatchery, buildings to house laboratories and offices, ponds and tanks for head-starting of freshwater turtles, ponds and other outdoor enclosures for rescued turtles, breeding ponds for captive breeding work, outdoor exhibits for interpretive purposes and housing for staff, visiting scientists, interns and volunteers.

The founders are now sourcing funds to develop physical facilities for the TCC. Proposals have also been submitted to several funding agencies, both local and abroad to support the turtle conservation projects to be carried out by the TCC.

Vision Statement
The Turtle Conservation Centre (TCC) will be Malaysia’s anchor organization to create the conditions for turtles to thrive under the care and protection of informed local communities, an educated and motivated public, dedicated NGOs and a concerned government.

Mission
The TCC will be dedicated to the restoration of the symbolism of Terengganu with turtles through hands-on freshwater and marine turtle conservation and research programs, and public outreach through educational campaigns, volunteer and fund-raising activities.

The TCC will also strive to bring about the recovery of depleted wild populations of freshwater, terrestrial and marine turtles in Malaysia through partnerships with like-minded organizations and individuals as well as through its own innovative programs.

In the up and coming weeks, we'll be posting information about Turtle conservation here in Malaysia, including those of river Terrapins. If you find these posts useful, please help share it with your friends.


Reference:

• http://www.turtleconservationcentre.org/

[All images have been provided by TCC and used with permission]

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