Bernama 24 Jul 11;
KEMAMAN, July 24 (Bernama) -- Pieces of plastic floating in the ocean often mistaken for food or jellyfish by turtles may be one of the reasons for their deaths.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-Malaysia Terengganu Turtle and Terrapin Conservation Programme chief Rahayu Zulkifli said shards of plastic were found in the stomach of dead turtles in the state.
Thus, she urged the people, especially fishermen, to cooperate by not throwing plastics into the sea as they could kill turtles.
Speaking to Bernama at the launch of the WWF-Malaysia's "Protect Our Turtles" campaign here today, she said WWF-Malaysia had taken various measures to increase the turtle population, including by buying turtle eggs for hatching with the assistance of the Fisheries Department.
Rahayu said leatherback turtle was considered a critically endangered species as only 10 nesting areas were found in the state since 2000 compared to 10,000 areas a year in the 50s.
The green turtle is also listed as threatened even though many nesting areas were discovered in Terengganu, she said.
About 400 people, including tourists, who attended the campaign signed a pledge to help protect turtles and will not eat their eggs.
The Terengganu Fisheries Department and the Kerteh District Heritage Society also took part in the campaign.
-- BERNAMA
400 locals and tourists pledge to help protect turtles
The Star 25 Jul 11;
KEMAMAN: To save the endangered leatherback turtles, some 400 people comprising tourists and locals have pledged to help protect turtles and not to eat their eggs.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Malaysia Terengganu Turtle and Terrapin Conservation Programme chief Rahayu Zulkifli said WWF Malaysia had taken various measures to increase the turtle population, including buying turtle eggs for the hatchery with the assistance of the Fisheries Department.
At the launch of the WWF Malaysia’s “Protect Our Turtles” campaign here yesterday, she said the leatherback turtle was considered a critically endangered species as only 10 nesting areas were found in the state since 2000 compared with 10,000 each year in the 1950s.
Rahayu urged the people, especially fishermen, to cooperate by not throwing plastics into the sea as they could kill turtles.
Pieces of plastic floating in the ocean often mistaken for food or jellyfish by turtles may be one of the reasons for their deaths.
She said shards of plastic had been found in the stomach of dead turtles in the state.
The green turtle was listed as threatened even though many nesting areas had been discovered in Terengganu, she said.
The Terengganu Fisheries Department and the Kerteh District Heritage Society also took part in the campaign. — Bernama
