WWF-Malaysia Wants Pulau Upeh Declared Turtle Sanctuary

Bernama 6 Jul 11;

KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 (Bernama) -- A national conservation trust has asked the Melaka government to gazette Pulau Upeh as a turtle sanctuary as the island's beaches are popular nesting sites of the Hawksbill turtle.

WWF-Malaysia said the gazetting of the island must go in tandem with a good management plan and effective implementation of conservation at each of the nesting sites.

It said in a statement that Pulau Upeh also had the potential to become a major eco-tourism draw, and welcomed the recent assurance by the Melaka government to adapt any physical development on the island to the turtle ecology.

"The recognition accorded to Pulau Upeh as the primary nesting ground of the threatened Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is an encouraging measure as any development on the island will not undermine the habitat of the marine animal," it said.

-- BERNAMA

Call to gazette island as turtle site
New Straits Times 6 Jul 11;

KUALA LUMPUR: A national conservation trust has asked the Malacca government to gazette Pulau Upeh as a turtle sanctuary as the island's beaches are popular nesting sites of the Hawksbill turtle.

WWF-Malaysia said the gazetting of the island must be in tandem with a good management plan and effective implementation of conservation at each of the nesting sites.

It said Pulau Upeh also had the potential to become a major eco-tourism draw, and welcomed the recent assurance by the Malacca government to adapt any physical development on the island to the turtle ecology.


"The recognition accorded to Pulau Upeh as the primary nesting ground of the threatened Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is an encouraging measure as any development on the island will not undermine the habitat of the marine animal." -- Bernama