Malaysia: Nature lovers pay for sick turtle’s taxi fare from Kudat to Kota Kinabalu

muguntan vanar The Star 1 Jun 19;

KOTA KINABALU: A group of nature lovers in Kudat pooled money and paid for a taxi driver to bring an ill turtle to the Gaya Island Turtle Rescue Centre near here Saturday (June 1).

The turtle was brought to the centre at 3pm on Saturday after it was found to be unable to dive into the sea as it was suffering from "floaters syndrome", which also affects the turtle's appetite.

There is also a possibility that the turtle swallowed plastic.

It was initially found floating near Sabah's northern tip at Simpang Mengayau in Kudat, about 200km from Kota Kinabalu

Sabah Wildlife Rescue Unit personnel, including the department’s assistant director Dr Sen Nathan, were on hand to help the turtle be transported to the centre operated by a resort on the island.

Dr Sen said that the experts at the rescue centre will begin treating the turtle and they were hoping for the best.

Sick turtle sent to rescue centre by cab
The Star 2 Jun 19;

KOTA KINABALU: A green turtle suffering floater syndrome was rescued by nature lo­vers in Kudat, northern Sabah, who collectively paid RM350 to a taxi driver to take it to the Gaya Island Turtle Rescue Centre here.

The turtle was seen floating at Sabah’s northern tip of Simpang Mengayau in Kudat about 200km from the state capital.

Resort operators and workers helped rescue it before seeking help from the wildlife department. They pooled their money to pay for the taxi.

Wildlife Rescue Unit director Dr Sen Nathan, along with other personnel from the unit, were on hand to pick up the sick turtle in the state capital and transport it to the centre operated by a resort on the island.

Floater syndrome prevents the marine animal from diving to feed and leaving it vulnerable to predators. Ingesting plastic is among causes of the condition.