The Star 19 Jul 11;
KUALA TERENGGANU: An investigation will be carried out into allegations that some local tourist guides are encouraging tourists to eat turtle eggs.
Terengganu Tourism, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Rahin Said said the state government was clear on its stand to preserve the population of turtles as well as terrapins.
“We fear certain tourist guides may have obtained the eggs in the black market,” he told The Star yesterday.
He said the authorities would not compromise if it was found that errant tourist guides were promoting the eating of turtle eggs as a “must have food”.
“Turtles and terrapins are endangered, thus we will give our full co-operation in protecting them,” he said in response to allegations by WWF Malaysia that tourist guides had casually reminded tourists not to miss eating turtle eggs while they are in Tereng-ganu.
Abdul Rahin urged WWF Malaysia to provide information on its allegations.
