UMT To Install Satellite Device To Monitor Bernama's Adopted Turtle

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21 (Bernama) – Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) through the Sea Turtle Research Unit (Seatru) plans to install a satellite device on the body of a turtle that was adopted by the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), recently. UMT Marine Science and Environment Studies Centre lecturer who is also Seatru chairman, Dr Mohd Uzair Rusli said the installation of the satellite device on a turtle named ‘Nur Bernama’ would enable to monitor its movements daily for up to six months. These effort could attract and raise the public's awareness of the conservation of marine life, especially turtles, he said. “We can share Nur Bernama’s movement data directly to the public via news broadcasts or Bernama's documentaries. “Through that, people will have an interest to follow the development of the turtle," he told Bernama after after a two-way discussion session between the university and the news agency at Wisma Bernama, here Thursday. Mohd Uzair said the cost of installing a satellite device on the 25-year-old turtle was estimated at RM30,000. Meanwhile, Bernama General News Desk Executive Editor Roslan Ariffin said the agency would help UMT to seek funding in realising the proposal. “We will try to raise funds by working with any party who can finance the installation cost of the device. Not only for Nur Bernama but for other turtles also to allow UMT to obtain more data on turtles. “ Currently, we only get information about Nur Bernama when the turtle returns to the beach for example once in three or four years. If the device is installed, we can monitor its movements every day and it will encourage our sense of belonging to Nur Bernama, "he said. Roslan also expressed his pride as Bernama was not only the first media to adopt a turtle but was also a major media channel that would raise sensitivity and concern of the people for the survival of the turtle. Also present at the discussion session were Bernama’s Chief Executive Officer Zulkefli Salleh, Bernama’s Editor-in-Chief Zakaria Abdul Wahab and UMT’s vice-chancellor Prof Dr Nor Aieni Mokhtar. -- BERNAMA