Landing Trend Of Leatherback, Olive Ridley Turtles In Malaysia Worrying

ALOR GAJAH (Melaka, Malaysia) Oct 2 (Bernama) -- The landing trend of the leatherback sea turtles and olive ridley sea turtles in Malaysia is worrying as they are increasingly threatened by human and natural elements, said Rantau Abang Fisheries Research Institute director Sharum Yusof. He said the last time leatherback sea turtle nests were found was in 2017 but more worryingly was that the turtles found at the two nests did not lay any eggs. He told Bernama this during a programme to show appreciation to government departments, private companies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) at the Pantai Kemuning Turtles Conservation and Information Centre in Pengkalan Balak, which was also attended by Melaka Fisheries director Mohd Fauzi Salehon here Thursday. However, Sharum said Melaka recorded the highest number of hawksbill turtle landings in Malaysia last year with 548 while 19 landing sites were identified. Earlier during the programme, 500 hatchlings and adult hawksbill turtles, tagged with Platform Terminal Transmitter (PTT) devices contributed by Sun Power Malaysia Manufacturing Sdn Bhd, were released into the sea. The use of the device is to obtain data on the movement and migration path of the hawksbill turtles in the Straits of Melaka as well as to research into their food and habitat. Sharum hoped that more private companies and NGOs would help in the conservation of turtles to ensure the sustainability of the turtle population in the country. -- BERNAMA