wildsingapore news: sea-turtles

Showing posts with label sea-turtles. Show all posts

Showing posts with label sea-turtles. Show all posts

Malaysia: Two men nabbed, over 600 turtle eggs seized

Goh Pei Pei New Straits Times 8 Sep 19;

KUCHING: The Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) enforcement team nabbed two men for selling sea turtle eggs at Pasar Tamu Kubah Ria on Saturday.

SFC chief executive officer Zolkipli Mohamad Aton said the first suspect, aged 65, was caught at 9.45am and 214 eggs were seized.

“When our team returned to the market for another round of patrol in the afternoon, they arrested a 26-year-old man with 438 sea turtle eggs. We had lodged a police report for further investigation,” he said in a statement today.

On the same day, another team raided a stall at Bandar Riyal market in Kota Samarahan for selling wild boar meat.

A 62-year-old male suspect was nabbed and 17 packets of the wildlife meat were seized.

100 hawksbill turtles released into the sea after rare hatching on Sentosa

JUSTIN ONG Today Online 4 Sep 19;

SINGAPORE — One hundred newly-hatched hawksbill turtles were released into the sea from Tanjong Beach in Sentosa on Wednesday morning (Sept 4).

According to a Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) spokesperson, the eggs were hatched on Tuesday at approximately 10pm. SDC carried out measurements and checks on the hatchlings before they were released into the sea at about 7am on Wednesday.

The hawksbill turtle nest was discovered at Tanjong Beach on July 14, said SDC.

Malaysia: Protected marine parks no sanctuary for endangered turtles

Avila Geraldine New Straits Times 29 Aug 19;

KOTA KINABALU: Despite efforts to save turtles, the endangered species are still under threat, even within protected marine parks in the state, in particular the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park (TARP) near here.

Marine biologist Scott Mayback said the threats come in various forms, including heavy boat activities, marine debris, fish bombings, and ghost nets.

“(The ghost net) is a major concern. People are still using it to catch fish, even within a protected marine park.

150 hatchlings born last year at Singapore's only turtle hatchery: NParks

About 150 baby turtles were hatched last year at Singapore's first and only hatchery for these marine creatures, the National Parks Board (NParks) said on Wednesday (Aug 21), nearly a year since its official launch in September 2018. Junn Loh reports.
Junn Loh Channel NewsAsia 21 Aug 19;

SINGAPORE: About 150 baby turtles were hatched last year at Singapore's first and only hatchery for these marine creatures, the National Parks Board (NParks) said on Wednesday (Aug 21), nearly a year since its official launch in September 2018.

The turtle hatchery at Sisters’ Islands Marine Park was built as part of efforts to provide a safe space for incubating eggs, which faces threats caused by human traffic, light pollution and predators such as monitor lizards.

Singapore is home to two species of turtles: the hawksbill turtle and the green turtle, both of which are critically endangered.

Indonesia: Police thwart alleged attempt to smuggle thousands of turtle eggs

The Jakarta Post 15 Aug 19;

Semparuk Police in Sambas regency, West Kalimantan, confiscated 1,340 turtle eggs allegedly being smuggled by a passenger of the KM Sabuk Nusantara 38 vessel during an operation in Sintete Port in the regency.

The turtle eggs were carried by a passenger identified as N, a resident of Sedau subdistrict in the province’s Singkawang city, Semparuk Police chief First Insp. Aswin Mahwan said on Thursday.

Authorities launched the operation on Wednesday after they received information from local people that the KM Sabuk Nusantara 38 would arrive in the port and one of the vessel’s passengers was bringing turtle eggs.

Malaysia: Sandakan traders still selling turtle eggs despite warnings - Sabah Wildlife Dept

Olivia Miwil New Straits Times 6 Aug 19;

SANDAKAN: Traders here are still selling turtle eggs despite being constantly reminded by authorities that such an activity is against the law.

Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga said turtle eggs could still be found at many shoplots near the market in the district.

“They are doing it secretly... through hand signals (Okay sign, to indicate availbility of turtle eggs).

“However, such activity is still under control because it is being handled by the relevant enforcement agencies,” he said.

Malaysia: Sandakan Marine cops seize 7k turtle eggs worth RM13k

stephanie lee The Star 23 Jul 19;

KOTA KINABALU: Marine police in Sandakan seized some 7,000 turtle eggs from a pump boat near the Sungai Batu 2 river on early Monday (July 22).

Sabah Marine police commander Asst Comm Mohamad Pajeri Ali said the eggs, worth about RM12,600, were seized at about 2.30am.

“We believe these eggs were smuggled in from the Philippines and are meant to be sold to the local market in Sandakan and its surrounding areas,” he said in a statement.

ACP Pajeri said prior to the seizure, marine police were conducting patrols in the area and they saw a suspicious looking green and blue pump boat with two men on board.

Malaysia: 250 turtle eggs confiscated from Lahad Datu market

Hazsyah Abdul Rahman New Straits Times 13 Jul 19;

LAHAD DATU: Marine police have seized 250 turtle eggs from the Lahad Datu wet market here yesterday (July 12).

In the 10am operation, the eggs, worth RM500, were found in a bucket and a basket near the market's chicken slaughter station.

Thailand: Hawksbill sea turtle killed by plastic waste in Gulf of Thailand

Pratch Rujivanarom The Thaiger & The Nation 2 Jul 19;

A hawksbill sea turtle which was found washed ashore Pattaya’s Na Jomtien Beach is just the latest victim of the Thailand severe marine debris problem .

The Royal Thai Navy’s Sea Turtle Conservation Centre found the rotting carcass on Chon Buri’s Na Jomtien Beach on Sunday. An autopsy reveals that the turtle’s stomach was full of plastic trash and bits of fishing net.

Malaysia: Endangered eagles, slow loris rescued; turtles eggs seized in wildlife raids

stephen then The Star 11 Jun 19;

MIRI: The Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) has rescued two endangered eagles and a slow loris, also seizing dozens of turtle eggs.

In a series of enforcement operations in Serikin town at the southern Sarawak-Kalimantan border, SFC units arrested an Indonesian woman, 47, for selling the turtle eggs in the market there.

The operations were carried out in Serikin during the Gawai and Hari Raya holidays.

Malaysia: Nature lovers pay for sick turtle’s taxi fare from Kudat to Kota Kinabalu

muguntan vanar The Star 1 Jun 19;

KOTA KINABALU: A group of nature lovers in Kudat pooled money and paid for a taxi driver to bring an ill turtle to the Gaya Island Turtle Rescue Centre near here Saturday (June 1).

The turtle was brought to the centre at 3pm on Saturday after it was found to be unable to dive into the sea as it was suffering from "floaters syndrome", which also affects the turtle's appetite.

There is also a possibility that the turtle swallowed plastic.

Malaysia: Native market in Sarikei found selling protected wildlife

stephen then The Star 26 May 19;

MIRI: The native market in Sarikei town in central Sarawak has been found to be a venue for selling live tarsier and slaughtered pangolin.

Sarawak Society for Prevention of Animal (SSPCA) president Datin Dona Wee said they received an alert from the public on this.

"A trader inside the Sarikei Tamu building was found selling live tarsier inside a small cage.

"Inside a plastic bag nearby was the meat of a pangolin.

Tarsier is a protected primate species.

Malaysia: Turtle researchers to switch to better tagging methods

stephanie lee The Star 22 May 19;

KOTA KINABALU: Researchers here have promised to use safer and better methods when tagging turtles in waters off Semporna to better protect these endangered sea creatures.

Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga said a roundtable discussion was organised, following concerns from seasoned divers and researchers on the "lift bag method" used during the annual Mabul Sea Turtle Project.

Some claim that this method, used by certain scientists from a public university, are harmful to these marine creatures.

The "lift bag method" is used when capturing turtles to tag, where they are tied to an air-filled bag and floated to the surface.

The speed they ascend to the surface is believed to be harmful, as it could lead to decompression sickness – and even possible fatalities – in turtles.

Tuuga said there had been speculation that this was leading to the death of turtles here, but there is no evidence to these claims.

"However, the scientists involved will make appropriate changes to the method for the additional safety of turtles," he said.

Malaysia: Turtle eggs are being sold openly in Sabah, and tourists are partly to blame

It is illegal to possess turtle eggs under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997. Those convicted face a fine of RM50,000 or a jail term of up to five years, or both.
Amir Yusof Channel NewsAsia 22 May 19;

SANDAKAN, Sabah: Cars idle in endless queues along Sandakan’s busiest street, Jalan Pryer, as locals horde the dozens of rustic shophouses for bargains.

Right in the heart of the neighbourhood’s labyrinth of alleys, a group of men stood on a prominent street corner with wads of cash bulging in their pockets.

They seemed relaxed, leaning against the walls while smoking, observing passersby. The eyes of one of them lit up when he saw this reporter walking by.

“You want turtle eggs, brother? I give you a good price,” he asked in Bahasa Malaysia. “How much?” I asked.

Malaysia: Diving fraternity angry over picture of diver holding protected Hawksbill turtle

Avila Geraldine New Straits Times 20 May 19;

KOTA KINABALU: A picture of a diver holding up a totally protected turtle in the waters here has caused anger among the diving fraternity.

The picture, which was shared in a WhatsApp chat group with members comprising mostly professional divers and Sabah Parks staff, showed the diver holding a Hawksbill turtle up from the surface of the water.

The diving group has described the act as thoughtless and called on the relevant authorities to investigate and take necessary action against such irresponsible behaviour towards marine life.

It was unclear whether the incident occurred within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park (TARP) or outside it, but the water appeared to be shallow. It was also unclear why such an act was committed.

Malaysia: Lift bags are harmful to turtles - Divers

stephanie lee The Star 15 May 19;

KOTA KINABALU: Professional divers in Semporna are concerned with the “lift bag” method used by certain researchers to tag turtles in waters off Mabul island.

Semporna Professional Divers Association deputy president Dahlan Maizin said using lift bags to bring turtles to the surface might be harmful to the marine species.

“This method was used a few years back and, recently, we saw some researchers using the same method.

“One of us had taken part in the research work a few years ago and took a video of the process.

The researchers were believed to be from local higher learning institutes.

Citing the concept of diving and resurfacing in humans, Dahlan said such a method where a person swims to the surface quickly without any break in between were life threatening due to the drastic change in the pressure to body functions.

“It could be the same for the turtles that are lifted out of the water in such a quick manner.

Indonesia: Endangered Green and Hawksbill Turtles Released Back Into the Sea

NUR YASMIN Jakarta Globe 6 May 19;

Jakarta. Thirty endangered sea turtles that were discovered when they were about to be smuggled out of Indonesia were released back into their natural habitat in Riau's Natuna Sea on Sunday, the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry announced in a statement.

The turtles were seized from their smugglers by Polair Kepri (Riau Water Police), the ministry said.

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti and high-ranking officials from her ministry, including acting director general of maritime and fisheries resource monitoring Agus Suherman, and Riau government officials attended the official ceremony to release the endangered turtles back into the sea on Sunday.

"The 25 green turtles and five Hawksbill turtles were discovered in Batam by Riau Water Police," Agus said in the statement,

Indonesia: Five giant leatherbacks lay clutches of eggs in Raja Ampat

Antara 1 May 19;

Waisai (ANTARA) - Five giant leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) had reportedly laid clutches of eggs in Yenbekaki Village in Raja Ampat District, West Papua Province, in April 2019.

Yenbekaki Conservationist Group Chairman Yusuf Mayor remarked here on Wednesday that Warebar Beach in Yenbekaki Village has become the preferred spot for leatherback turtles to lay their clutches of eggs during the year.

Mayor confirmed that five leatherback turtles had surfaced, prepared their nesting sites, and laid their clutches of eggs at Warebar Beach in April this year, with their nests presently reach five.

Indonesia: Riau Islands Police foil illegal turtle sales

Fadli The Jakarta Post 23 Apr 19;

Riau Islands Police foiled the illegal sale of turtles at Teluk Mata Ikan Beach, Batam, Riau Islands, a police spokesperson said on Monday.

As many as 148 turtles were allegedly sold to Singapore tourists who wanted to use them for a religious ritual at the local vihara, Riau Islands Police Sr. Comm. Saptono Erlangga told The Jakarta Post.

Erlangga said that each turtle was sold for prices ranging from Rp 1 million (US$71) to Rp 3 million. They included 39 hawksbill sea turtles and 79 green sea turtles, as well as 30 turtles of unknown species that were found dead by the time the police caught the alleged perpetrators.

Malaysia: Green turtle found dead at Pohon Batu beach; cause of death unknown

Bernama New Straits Times 9 Feb 19;

LABUAN: A green sea turtle was found dead at Pohon Batu beach here, with portions of its intestines allegedly taken out from its abdomen.

The most endangered and threatened species of the sea turtle was found by a villager at Kg Pohon Batu on Friday morning and it was subsequently reported to the Fisheries Department at 2.15pm the same day.

The discovery came as a shock to the Labuan Marine Park, turtle conservationists and villagers, who urged for a thorough investigation to be carried out on any elements of illegal hunting of sea turtles for eggs and meat.

Labuan Fisheries Department director Faizal Suhaili Ibrahim told Bernama that based on a preliminary investigation, there seemed to be no ‘foul play’ in the turtle’s death, but assured that thorough investigation would be conducted.

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