Malaysia: Sea turtles returning to Setiu

Satiman Jamin New Straits Times 18 Mar 13;

A TOURIST DRAW: 201 landings at Penarik and Telaga Papan beaches last year

SETIU: TURTLE landings at the Penarik and Telaga Papan beaches here have been increasing over the years and they have the potential to become major tourist attractions as industry players come up with a multitude of ecotourism products.

Although the 201 turtle landings on the beaches here last year were not much compared with those recorded at the Rantau Abang beach in Dungun in the 1970s, they are significant as the turtles have made a comeback to areas with heavy human presence.

Setiu Fisheries Department officer Rosli Abdul Rahman said turtles had returned to lay eggs at the Penarik beach although street lighting had been installed at the area a few years ago.

He said turtles would normally be jittery when there were human presence and would shun areas with bright lights.

Rosli added that in the first few years after the street lighting was installed, turtles had stopped coming to the beach.

"However, after about five years, the turtles have returned despite the bright lights at the pedestrian walkway there.

"Maybe, they have gotten used to the lights and human presence."

Rosli was speaking after the opening of a turtles' mini gallery by World Wildlife Fund Malaysia and Hijau Group at Penarik Inn Beach Chalet here yesterday.

The gallery was an initiative by Penarik Inn, with the support and technical assistance from WWF, and will serve as an information centre about sea turtles and painted terrapins (Batagur affinis) to visitors.

Terengganu Fisheries Department director Abdul Khalil Abdul Karim lauded Penarik Inn's initiative to set up the gallery as an example of a forward-looking ecotourism product.

He added that besides attracting tourists, it could help educate the public about turtle conservation.

"The state government had allocated RM500,000 a year for turtle conservation efforts in Terengganu and private initiatives like this can boost public awareness of the endangered species, which are part of our natural heritage."

In a press release for the gallery's opening, WWF-Malaysia chief executive officer Datuk Dr Dionysius Sharma said community involvement was the key to success in championing the survival of endangered species.

He said the project to create an information centre on sea turtles and painted terrapins in Setiu was started in August last year.

He added that 90 per cent of the gallery's designs used recycled materials and were developed in collaboration with four arts and design students from Universiti Teknologi Mara.

Read more: Turtles returning to Setiu - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/turtles-returning-to-setiu-1.236854#ixzz2NqXynj2Y