Malaysia: Hawksbill turtle carcasses found at Tanjung Purun beach

New Straits Times 22 Apr 14;

LABUAN: The decomposed carcasses of two Hawksbill sea turtles were found washed ashore at the Tanjung Purun beach here yesterday morning.

The 3.5-metre and 1.5-metre turtles were found by an employee of Labuan Marine Museum Department, Suriani Abd Ghani, who immediately alerted the Labuan Fisheries Department (LFD).

LFD Marine Unit Base chief Jamari Abu Bakar told Bernama the last such discovery in the area was in 2010.

"There was a rope at the necks and feet of the turtles, probably from a fishing net. We will investigate the actual cause of death" he said.

Jamari stressed that although such occurrences were rare in Labuan, the authorities viewed the case seriously as it was important to protect the endangered species, which were also a tourist attraction here. -- BERNAMA

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