Haslin Gaffor, The Star 7 May 08;
SANDAKAN: Turtle Islands Park (TPPP), located 40km from here, has been instrumental in turtle conservation since 1966.
TPPP encompasses three islands – Pulau Selingaan, Bakkungan Kechil and Gulisaan – covering an area of 1,740ha.
The first turtle hatchery in Malaysia was commissioned in Pulau Selingaan in 1966. Two years later, the two other islands started their own hatcheries.
Pulau Gulisaan is the main landing point for the Hawksbill turtle in South-East Asia.
Another species that makes its way to TPPP is the Green turtle.
The first turtle hatchery in Malaysia was commissioned in Pulau Selingaan in 1966. Two years later, the two other islands started their own hatcheries.
Pulau Gulisaan is the main landing point for the Hawksbill turtle in South-East Asia.
Another species that makes its way to TPPP is the Green turtle.
Realising how important the marine habitat is, the state acquired the three islands and turned them into a marine park in 1977.
Since then, they have been under the care of Sabah Parks, an agency under the Sabah’s Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry.
In the bigger picture, TPPP is part of the Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Area that encompasses six other islands in Philippine waters – Laagan, Bakkungan Besar, Lihiman, Taganak, Boaan and Baguan – to provide integrated protection for the Hawksbill and Green turtles.
TPPP manager Fazrullah Rizally Abdul Said noted that the islands recorded the highest number of turtle landings each year compared to anywhere else in Malaysia.
“Last year alone, it was estimated that more than 6,000 turtles landed on the three islands to lay eggs.
“What is interesting is that the hatcheries here are the most productive in South-East Asia in efforts to conserve and protect turtles from extinction,” he said.
A pertinent aspect of conservation is enhancing the survival rate of turtle hatchlings.
According to him, several park rangers have been stationed on the island to enforce the Sabah Parks Enactment 1984, and visitors or tourists cannot freely enter the beach area from 6.30pm to 6am the following day.
This is to ensure they don’t frighten away turtles coming to lay eggs as they are highly sensitive to movement and light.
Fazrullah Rizally stressed that fishing was forbidden in all parts of the TPPP area to protect the turtles.
Research, including cooperation with foreign researchers, is the key to achieve the long-term goals of Sabah Parks.
The research activities involve marking the turtles, transferring eggs to the hatchery, maintaining the hatchery and releasing hatchlings into the sea.
Monitoring and data collection is conducted continuously.
“All conservation activities beginning with turtle landings, transfer of eggs to the hatchery, incubating the eggs and releasing the hatchlings are conducted according to recommendations by turtle experts,” he said.
Fazrullah Rizally said that turtle conservation programme targeted tourists as well, especially those who came to Pulau Selingaan.
Each day in the late evenings, a briefing and video presentation for tourists is held before the Turtle Watch Programme commences.
Tourists staying the night in Pulau Selingaan have only one opportunity to view turtles landing to lay eggs, transfer of the eggs to the hatchery, how the hatchery is maintained and how the hatchlings are released.
He said that the conservation programme also targeted villagers living nearby.
The programme is also conducted at five schools – SK Pulau Libaran, SK Pulau Nunuyan Laut, SK Tanjung Aru, SK Pulau Sanghai and SK Pulau Timbang.
Meanwhile, there is only one resort in TPPP on Pulau Selingaan.
The number of guests is limited to 52 each night.
Pulau Selingaan park ranger Mohd Kassim Karim noted that the presence of tourists poses no threat to the conservation efforts.
He said that tourist arrivals in Pulau Selingaan last year – both foreign and local – was estimated at 10,000, making the island a leading tourist attraction in Sandakan.
The turtle-landing season occurs between March and September, with August often recording the highest number of between 40 to 60 landings each night.
Female turtles lay between 80 and 180 eggs each. They return up to seven times at 10 to 15-day intervals to lay their eggs.
Dr Juanita Joseph, turtle conservation expert from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu’s marine science department, said the TPPP programme had achieved many milestones.
She hoped that other states in Malaysia would emulate the programme. – Bernama
