Awareness the key to protect turtles population.

Nov 6, 2015

By Olivia Miwil

olivia@nst.com.my

Pictures by Olivia Miwil

KOTA KINABALU: Raising awareness among the people especially the children could help in addressing decline turtles population, said Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) sea turtles expert Dr Pushpa M. Palaniappan.

“We start (to educate) with the young (to let) them know what are right and wrong things to do, which will eventually influence their parents.   

“The private sectors are working with government agencies to send the message out turtles need protection as much as possible,” she said during press conference on Borneo Divers’ Celebration of Sea Tutles in Mabul 2015.

Pushpa refused to comment on the incident of government officials being served turtle eggs at a restaurant in Sandakan believed to be happened in August as the Sabah Wildlife is investigating the case.

Meanwhile, Pushpa added the collaboration between the university and Borneo Divers in studies and raising awareness among the community had contributed significantly to the turtle’s population in Mabul island in Semporna.

“UMS has since tagged 346 green and 26 hawksbill turtles in Mabul from August 2010 until May this year.

“It is a positive sign that 70 per cent out of those numbers are juvenile turtles,” she said, adding several resorts at the Mabul island have been rewarding community RM10 for every turtle egg surrendered to them.

On annual basis, about 15,000 eggs are laid at at least three hatcheries set up by the resort on annual basis.

The four-day annual celebration, which will begin next Monday, is expected to involve students from SK Mabul and School of Hope, as well as 120 divers.

Assistant State Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Pang Yuk Ming is expected to launch the programme.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah Sea turtles expert Dr Pushpa M. Palaniappan (third right), Borneo Divers project director Louis Lang (fourth right) and volunteers explaining details on programme Borneo Divers’ Celebration of Sea Tutles in Mabul 2015.

Additional info: 

Borneo Divers Celebration of Sea Turtles 9-13 November 2015

Package 5 Days 4 nights RM2488.60 (Divers) and RM2075.20 (Non-divers).