Saving Mabul's green turtles

By Olivia Miwil - May 16, 2019 @ 12:11pm

Photo courtesy of SPDA/ Joe Star

SEMPORNA: The Sabah Wildlife Department recorded 18 green turtle deaths off Mabul island from last year until this month.

Its director Augustine Tuuga said some of the protected animals were hit by boat propeller, while others were beached, killed in nets, and deaths by unknown causes.

Of the casualties, one was a tagged female turtle, he added.

Non-governmental associations, Semporna Professional Divers Association and Green Semporna, had recently raised concerns that the method used by researchers and voluntourism exponents might harm and change the behaviour of turtles in Mabul island.

Both also shared several videos on social media on the alleged hazardous handling of the protected species during a research work and the recent Mabul World Turtle Day here.

The footages showed a turtle being "shot up" to surface using a lift bag, another allegedly died during tagging, and a volunteer scrubbing the back of a turtle using a wire brush.

Augustine said the department would hold a meeting with the Semporna Turtle Management Committee members next week to get feedbacks and come up with a solution.

"The meeting which will be chaired by the district officer, will discuss and make a decision on the issue," he added.

The Sabah government, which is aiming for four million tourist arrivals this year, is continuously striving to balance tourism and conservation in the state.

Turtles are protected under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997. Offenders can be fined not less than RM50,000 and up to RM250,000 and face a maximum five years’ imprisonment.

To ensure animal welfare in Sabah is well taken care, the state cabinet had passed the Sabah Animal Welfare Enactment 2015. Any cruelty towards animals under the enactment is punishable by a maximum fine of RM100,000 or three years’ jail, or both upon conviction.