Green turtles return to Malaysia but future bleak
By Agence France-Presse,
Updated: 8/5/2010
Green turtles are returning to Malaysia in their hundreds after being nearly wiped out, but experts warned Thursday that the species is still headed for oblivion if habitat loss is not stopped.
Thousands of turtles used to land every year on Malaysian beaches, but their numbers plummeted in the 1980s due to rampant coastal development and the plundering of eggs from their sandy nests.
However, landings have increased in the past few years in the eastern resort strip of Cherating, and some 350 — mostly green turtles but also some hawksbills — now arrive there each year, officials said.
Mohamad Mat Saman, fisheries department director in central Pahang state, said that initiatives such as new hatcheries and efforts to promote conservation had led to the improvement.
“This year up until June we had 200 turtles coming to lay their eggs,” he told AFP.
“About 70 percent of them had previously landed in Cherating and we believe others were born here. All turtles which land are tagged.”
“We received support from the locals and fishermen who collect turtle eggs and hand them to the sanctuary,” he said.
Mohamad said that authorities have proposed introducing a new law to ban turtle egg consumption in Pahang state by the end of this year.
Turtle nesting sites are dotted along peninsular Malaysia’s east coast, but the leatherbacks which were once common have now virtually disappeared.
Elizabeth John from conservation group Traffic said that while some turtle populations now appear stable, their numbers have dropped dramatically since the 1970s.
“Habitat loss is a major threat to green turtles and all other marine turtles that nest on Malaysian beaches. Infrastructure development along the coast near key nesting sites has impacted populations,” she said.
“The local trade and consumption of turtle eggs is another threat to green turtles,” she added.
John said green turtles are facing “the double whammy of losing their homes and their young”, much as leatherback turtles did during the past few decades.
“Its heartening to see green turtles still returning to nest on Malaysian shores, but if we fail to address the threats that face them, we will be pushing them go down the same path towards destruction,” she said.
Source: http://news.malaysia.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4258501
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The east coast of Malaysia used to be famous hot spots for turtles to lay eggs. But recent year with many developments and interruption to the habitat have affected the numbers of turtles approaching our shores. I hope the relevant authority will take action and protect this animals from harm. We should preserve a safe and clean environment for the turtles to come back. Everyone is responsible for the ecosystem and should help rectify the situation.
I used to dream of riding on the back of the turtles travelling the seven seas. It was very heartbreaking to read about the dwindling numbers of all sort of turtle mainly caused by human’s actions. It’s always good to see that with good initiative and conservation programs,the numbers of green turtles are finally rising again.
Its sad the these turtle have to come the the beaches that are polluted to lay their eggs. I think that it is a good thing that people are doing something about this so that the green turtles have a nice place to lay their eggs and reproduce.
I think this is extremely cool news. The green turtles must be properly taken care of. A single extinction can affect an entire eco-system. I think that turtles are not living because they lay eggs or have meat. They live because they are living sentient beings!
i feel sad for the poor turtles – when i imagine myself not having a place to lay my eggs safely; and people eating my eggs, my babies; how heartbreaking! It’s cruel for human beings to do that. We must EMPATHIZE – i find that a very EFFECTIVE way to help me TRANSFORM positively.
It has been a long time already since we have been hearing about turtles coming to the shores in Malaysia. It was the leather back turtles that we find in the east coast beaches of the country. The turtles in the past I heard is as big as a square table top. Although I have not seen the real turtles myself. I have heard people, children and tourist rides on their hard back. I have seen and eaten their eggs. The shells are not like chicken eggs which are hard. Turtle eggs are like small deflated golf balls. Because of trade of turtle eggs and sale of turtle soup delicasies the turtles have faced extinction from Malaysian shores. Now its green turtles that is arriving. I hope the same type of business does not return again or even green turtles would face extinction also.
I LOVE TURTLE
MY STAR TORTOISE STAY WITH ME 4YEARS,PAST AWAY LAST YEAR
I VERY SAD…COZ HIS NAME IS LITTER BOY,HE IS VERY CLOSE TO ME
SLEEP WIT ME,EAT WIT ME
I love turtles (I never heard about the green ones before though). If I could take on the turtles karma and could spend one month in depression or without food but have the deal that they would be saved, I would do that.