Injured sea turtle fighting for its life in Tioman

New Straits Times 22 Aug 10;

ROMPIN: A green turtle (penyu agar) was left battling for its life after it was believed to have been hit by a speedboat in the waters off Pulau Tioman yesterday.

The young turtle, which had a deep cut and a huge crack on its shell, was rushed by a group of tourists to the Pulau Tioman Marine Park Centre for treatment.

Tengku Arif Temenggong (TAT) Turtle Sanctuary co-founder Datin Seri Rowena Baker said tourists had spotted the injured turtle near the island about noon and taken it to the marine park.

She said it was a heart-wrenching moment for the staff at the marine park when they spotted the huge gash, about 16cm long and 10cm wide, across the turtle's shell, which is believed to have been caused by a boat propeller.

"It was very ill and in a debilitated state. The wound was rotten and there were other living organisms inside the wound," she said.

"Based on the severe wounds, the turtle could have been injured more than a week earlier."

Rowena said the staff were trying their best to treat the wounds but she did not rule out the possibility that they would be forced to put the turtle to sleep.

Turtle dies of its injuries
New Straits Times 23 Aug 10;

ROMPIN: The injured green turtle (penyu agar), which was believed to have been hit by a speedboat propeller in the waters off Pulau Tioman, succumbed to its injuries on Saturday night.

The young turtle died at a turtle sanctuary in Kampung Juara on the resort island about 11pm.

Tengku Arif Temenggong (TAT) Turtle Sanctuary co-founder Datin Seri Rowena Baker told the New Straits Times that the turtle was too weak when it was placed in a water container.

The turtle, which had a deep cut and a huge crack on its shell, was spotted by tourists near the island about noon on Friday.

Rowena said she tried to get help from various parties to save the reptile, including a turtle hospital in Greece which had asked the volunteers at the sanctuary to use salt water to clear the wound of other living organisms.

"I'm so sad that we don't have a special facility that can help treat wounded turtles and other aquatic animals in Tioman."

Rowena said she would fly to Tioman with an aquatic veterinarian from Universiti Putra Malaysia to help another injured turtle which was being kept at the Berjaya Tioman Resort.

She said the adult hawskbill turtle (penyu karah), nicknamed "Eva", would need to undergo a surgery to remove a fishing hook which was stuck in its throat.

State Marine Park Department director Izarenah Md Ripin said the department would continue assisting Rowena and her team to save injured turtles including providing logistics services.