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InauguralLecture
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Prof.GhanEng Heng,phD, pJK

Turtlo$
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22 Juty2004
siri syarahan
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 Data
NegaraMalaysiaCataloguing-in-Publication
Perpustakaan

Chan,Eng Heng
Turtlesin Trouble/ ChanEng Heng
(SiriSyarahanInauguralKUSTEM:7 (200a)
tsBN 983-2888-07-7
2. Wildlifeconservation-
1. Turtles-Conservation-Malaysia.
Malaysia.l. Title. ll. Series
597.9209595

SIRI SYARAHANINAUGURALKUSTEM
1. SiriSyarahanInauguralKUT 1 (2000)
Fisheries and the NationalFoodSecurity:The Malaysian
Perspective
Prof. Dr. Mohd.AzmiAmbak

2. SiriSyarahanInauguralKUT: 2 (2000)
Development of OceanModelling:The Malaysian
Perspective
Prof. Dr. Alejandro Livio Camerlengo

3. SiriSyarahanInauguralKUT: 3 (2000)
Intothe Wondersof SurfactantBehaviour
Prof. Dr. HamdanSuhaimi

4. SiriSyarahanInauguralKUT: 4 (2000)
FoodChainin the Sea - lts Values,Challenges
and Prospects
Prof. Dr. Lokman Shamsudin

5. SiriSyarahanInauguralKUSTEM:5 (2002)
The Fascinating Worldof Flukes
Prof. Dr. FaizahMohd. Shaharom

6. SiriSyarahanInauguralKUSTEM:6 (2002)
the Travelis at the Speedof Light
The Widthis Unreachable,
Prof. Dr. lsmail Mohd.

7. SiriSyarahanInauguralKUSTEM:7 (2004)
Turtlesin Trouble
Prof. Dr. Chan Eng Heng
 T A B L EOF C ONTENTS

1 . Introduction

2 . MalaysianTurtlesand Population
Status
MarineTurtles 3
Tortorsesand FreshwaterTurtles 4

Causesof Population
Decline 8
Egg Exploitation 8
CommercialHarvestand Trade 9
Fisherieslmpacts 10
HabitatDestruction 10
Pollution 12
Negativelmpactsof Tourism 12
lnadequate Legislation 13
Lack of Research 1?

Lackof Coordinationand a NationalPolicvon Turtles 14

4. Conservation and Management MeasuresUndertaken in Malaysia 14

Legislation 14
E g gP r o t e c t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
. .5. . .
Establishment Areas
of Sanctuaries/ Protected 15
Reductionof FishingMortality
PublicEducation 17
Regionaland International Conventions and Agreements 17

of KUSTEMin TurtleResearchand Conservation

5. Contributions 17

o. Concluding
Remarks zl

7 . Acknowledgements 25

8. References 26
 TURTLES IN TROUBLE

lntroduction

Turtleshave evolvedover 300 millionyearsto occupya vast varietyof habitatson earth.

They roam the oceans,inhabitswamps,lakes and rivers,and tread grasslands,forests,
deserts,lowlandsand highlands.These habitatshave offeredrefuge,food, nestingand
breedinggroundsand helpedthem flourishon earth.The turtlesin turn have performed
of healthyecosystemson landas
to the maintenance
theirecologicalrolesand contributed
well as in the oceans.

The evolutionarysuccessof turtlesis attributedto their basicbodyform,the shellthat has

remainedunchangedthroughtime. Providedwith a naturalarmour,most specieshave
foundno necessityto developstrongaggressivebehaviouror offensivebody partsfor self
defence.The gentleand unobtrusivenatureof many of the specieshas inspiredmankind
throughthe ages,helpedshapehis character(seeBox 1) and providedhim with a much-
neededsourceof proteinand income.Many of the culturalpracticesof nativetribesand
even some modernsocietiesrevolvearoundturtles(Kemf,ef a/.,2000).

Sadly,the contributions of turtlesto mankindhas been short-lived.Their populationsizes

that ran into the millionsin the past have become severelydepletedover the last few
decades.The survivalof many speciesof turtles is now in jeopardy.Six of the seven
existingspeciesof marineturtlesare now in dangerof extinction,with three of them
criticallyendangered(lUCN, 1996).Freshwaterturtlesand tortoisesfare no better.Nearly
half of the living 300 speciesare threatenedwith extrnction,with Asia identifiedas the
geographicregionwith the greatestpercentageof threatenedspecies(TurtleConservation
Fund,2002).Here,trade in wild-collected animalsfrom South and SoutheastAsia for
marketsin China,Hong Kong,and Taiwanhave placedthe speciesin an unprecedented
survivalcrisis(Rhodin,2000).

communityto developactionplansaimedat
The turtlecrisishas promptedthe international
arrestingthe extinctionpathwayof turtles.ln 2002, The TurtleConservationFund, a
partnershipinitiativeof Conservation the IUCN/SSCTortoiseand Freshwater
International,
TurtleSpecialistGroupand the IUCN/SSCTurtleSurvivalAlliance launcheda GlobalAction
Planfor Conservation and Freshwater
of Tortoises Turtles(TurtleConservation
Fund,2OO2).

Likewise,the marineturtlecommunitydevelopeda GlobalStrategyfor the Conservation of

MarineTurtlesin'1995(lUCN,1995).Regionalagreements suchasthe MoUonASEANSea
TurtleConservation and Protectionand the MoU on the Conservation and Managementof
MarineTurtlesand theirHabitatsof the IndianOceanand Southeast Asiaare now in forceto
reversethe declineof marineturtlesin this partof the world.

The stircausedby the globalturtlecrisisdoesnot seemto haverippledthroughto Malaysia.

Manyof thecoastalcommunities arestillbenton collectingandeatingwhatmaybe theverylast
clutchesof eggsto be deposited.Liketheircounterparisin otherpartsof the world,the turtlesof
Malaysiaare in trouble.Threeof the four marinespeciesthat neston its beachesare on the
vergeof extinctionwhilemorethana thirdof its 14 freshwaterspeciesare in dramaticdecline.
thathavebeenrecordedin Malaysia.
turtlesor tortoises
Littleis knownaboutthefourterrestrial

tuttles; i, trouble
1
Thispaperwillexaminethe statusof the speciesof turtlesthatoccurin Malaysia, highlight
factorsthat threatentheir survivaland assessconservationeffortscurrentlyin practicein
thecountry.The roleof the University
Collegeof ScienceandTechnology Malaysia(KUSTEM)
through its Sea Turtle ResearchUnit (SEATRU)in turtle researchand conservation,
particularly
in bringingaboutthe recoveryof someof the localturtlepopulations
in Terengganu
is also presented.

B o x 1 : M O T H E RT U R T L E

The following informationabout the tuftle was extractedfrom a letter written over 50 yearsago
to Dr. E.M. Hoffmanfrom a Creek Indianelder,by the name of J.R. Daniels.

"Turtle in many tribes, is a deep and abiding spiritual symbol. The turtle is Mother
Earth...andrepresentsEarth's many blessings to us. Turtle is a circle; its shell is frag-
mented, but it is bound together.Just as are the many different peoplesof our country.
Turtle cannot see all of its shell, but turtle knows it is whole and all there. This is the
element that demonstratesfaith.

Turtle is beauty.Turtleteaches cleanliness,strength,and protectionof all living things.

The fortitude of turtle teaches bravery, silence, and obedience to natural law. Turtle is
a truth symbol, so speak what is true when you have dreamed of a turtle. You cannot
speak truth unless you are fair and reverent to all living things. To be like turtle, is to be
of character.

Keep the turtle in your heart...thenyou will be kind, unselfish,and happy.Turtle is not
concerned with speed, but with accuracy. Completion is more important to a journey
than haste,especiallyon the road of life.Turtleis the whole embodimentof wisdom. The
shell rises up towards the Great Spirit, but the shell is also downward in the direction of
mother earth...seekbalancebetweenthese two...seekbalancein all things,just as earth
and sky are balanced.

Turtleseems ageless,truth is eternaland wisdom long lasting.She has helpedothers to

become themselves.She taught them to swim, and gave her back so they could rest on
it when tired. Just when you feel you have learnedall you can from her,turtle will teach
you again.After all she is ageless.

Turtle seems never possessedof things but carries her home within her own life. Carry
your home in your heart, not in your things. Turtle is an exampleof right living and right
action...Tofollow turtle is to move towards what your people call God in your life. ....
Turtle keeps moving, and may even die while crossing an obstacle before giving up.
Dedication and patience are its companions. While turtle is often seen alone... lt is
content between earth and sky with its ever present home. Perhapswe too should see
our environmentas our "ever present" home betweenearth and sky.

watermarkis from an aftwork by Chang Fee Ming

turtles:'.,,"trouble
2
 MalaysianTurtlesand PopulationStatus

Peopleare sometimesconfusedoverthe termsturtles,tortoisesand terrapins."Turtle"is a

generalterm that can be appliedto all speciesfoundin the orderTestudines, i.e. reptiles
which havea shell. Henceit includesmarine,freshwaterand terrestrialspecies.Tortoises
usuallyreferto terrestrial
turtleswhileterrapinsincludeall specieslivingin freshwater, be
they hardor soft-shelled.All formsof turtlesare foundin Malaysia.

Marine Turtles

Fourof thesevenextantspeciesof marineturtlesoccurin Malaysia (Fig.1). Theleatherback

turtle(Dermochelys coriacea)nestsprimarilyon the mainlandbeachesof Terengganu, along
a l 5 k m s t r e t c h o fb e a c h c e n t r e d i n R a n t a u A b aTnhge. g r e e n t u r t l e ( C h e l o n i a m y d a s ) i s
more widely distributed,with the most importantnestingpopulationsoccurringin Sabah
and SarawakTurtlelslands.Othernestingbeachescan be foundin Terengganu (mainlyin
Redangand Perhentian lslands,Kemamanand Kerteh),Pahang(Chendorand Cherating),
Perak(PantaiRemis)and Sipadanlslandin Sabah.The hawksbillturtle(Eretmochelys
imbricata)has only two remainingimportantnestingpopulations,in the Sabah Turtle
lslands(principally Gulisaanlsland)and Melaka,withremnantpopulations in Terengganu,
Johore and elsewhere.The nestingstatus of the olive ridley (Lepidochelysolivacea)is
fragmentary, with isolatedcasesof nestingreportedin the SarawakTurtlelslands,Penang,
Terengganu and Kelantan.

CARAPAC
E PLAS]RON
Leatherback
Penyu /6--. R
<=v
YJ
'w'ffi \L-/
Belimbing

i*,,**,"""
rongtluotnat no scutos

"
rrog!s
F i g u r e1. . carapaca scutes
Hawksbill
A simpleidentification
guideto distinguish
Penyu Karah
^@-
7-+€71
-'\
betweenthe four species hawk - lrke
4 lateral/costat
of marineturtlesfoundin scules
C rntreil!rginal

Malaysia(Adaptedfrom GreenTurtle 1 par. of prefro^tal

Beath,1981). PenyuAgar

OliveRidley
Penyu Lipas
2 pairs ot
p.rlronta I
,/1
t""'""
5 - 9 p e i r so t
lateral sCut!S
-"@
rntromargina I

turtles'':' trouble
3
The populationstatusof marineturtlesis measuredby the numberof nestsproducedby the
variousspeciesper year, a figure that can be convenientlydeterminedby countingthe
number of nests depositedon the nestingbeaches.This figure does not providean
indicationof the actualpopulationsizesinceit measuresonlythe maturefemaleturtlesthat
ascendthe beachesto nest. Further,each individuallays betweenfour to six clutchesof
eggs per nestingseason.The turtlesdo not nest every year,with each nestingcycle
separatedby an intervalof two to eightyears.

Exceptfor the Sabah populations, most nestingtrendsare in decline.The most dramatic

declinesare exhibitedin the leatherbacks,hawksbillsand oliveridleysof Terengganu where
currentnestingnumbersindicate extinct(Fig.2). Theleatherback
thatthesespeciesareviftually
populationhas plummetedfrom 10,000annualnestingsin the early50'sto lessthana dozen
in recentyears(Chanand Liew,1996;2001).Althoughhistorical data is not availablefor the
hawksbilland olive ridleysof Terengganu, their declinesare no less dramaticthan the
leatherbacks.Greenturtlepopulations in Terengganu havenot beenmonitoredsufficiently to
providea clear pictureof the nestingtrends,but anecdotalevidencesuggestsdeclinesof
over 80%.Currentnestingdensityaverages2,000per year(Fig.2).

Nestingtrends in the green turtlesof the SarawakTurtle lslandsover the last 30 years
appearto be tn equilibrium,withtwo to threethousandnestingsoccuringper year(Fig.2).
In the early50's,nestingsof over20,000peryearhavebeenrecorded, indicating a decline
of over90% (Tisenand Bali,2000).

Only the greenturtlepopulationsof the SabahTurtlelslandshave stageda recovery,with

currentannualdensitiesof over 8,000 nestingsrepresenting a threefoldincreaseover
levelsrecordedin the early1980's(Fig.2). This remarkable recoveryis attributed
to bold
conservation decisionsmade by the SabahGovernment more than 30 yearsago in the
1970'swhen the Turtle lslandswere compulsorily acquiredfrom privateownershipto
providecompleteprotectionto the nestingturtlesand their eggs on the islands.However,
the hawksbillpopulationhere has not faredas well and appearsto be in steadydeclinein
the lastten years(Fig.2). Currently,nestingdensityrangesfrom 400 to 500 per year. The
other hawksbillnestingpopulationof importanceoccursin Melakawhere over 250 nests
per yearcan stillbe found(Fig.2).

Tortoises and FreshwaterTurtles

Tortoisesand freshwaterturtlesshowa higherdiversitythantheirmarinecounterparts,with

257 livingspeciesdescribedto date (Ernstand Barbour,1989).About 100 speciesare
nativetoAsia (vanDijk,2000)while18 havebeenrecordedin Malaysia(Table1, Sharma
and Tisen,2000).The distribution and populationstatusof the freshwaterturtlesand
tortoisesof Malaysiais virtuallyunknown.The speciesthat are huntedfor local use and
exportare believedto be quitedepleted,with Chitrachifraknownto be wipedout morethan
ren yearsago.

turtlesir;,trouble
4
 Figure2. Nestingtrendsobservedin the majornesting
populationsof marinetuftlesin Malaysia

800 Terengganu
Leatherback, Terengganu
Hawksbill,
140

120
600
o a 100

5 400
6 o 60
z z 40
200
20

0
1984 l9E6 1988 1990 1992 1994 t996 1998 2000
I 984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 l99E 2000

Year Year

500
OliveRidley,Terengganu 6000 Greenturtle,Terengganu
400 5000

a ,""" l
300
- -\
o o
200
z z .:": \
100
II
looo

0 o
1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 199a 2000 1 98 4 ! 9 A 6 1 9 8 8 1 9 9 0 1 9 9 2 t 9 9 4 1 9 9 6 1 9 9 8 2 0 0 0
Year Y ear

Greenturtle,Sabah 10 0 0 H a w k s b i l lS
, abah
12000
800
loooo
o
EOO0

q, sooo
o a
2 4 0 00
200
2000

0 0
1970 1980 ,.990 l9 70 1990

Year Y ear-

5000 Greenturtle.SarawakTurtlelslands 500

Hawksbill,Melaka
400
4 000

o
o) 3000
j:
E zooo
z
100
1000

o
1990 1995 2000 1990 r992 1994 1996 199I
r970 1975 1980 1985

Year Year

turtless*'strouble
5
 Table1. Nativefreshwaterturtlesand tortoisesin Malaysiaand utilization
(extracted
from Sharmaand Tisen,2000),

Trionychidae Known use

Asiaticsoftshellturtle Amyda caftilaginea Eggsas food.pet trade,as meat
source,medicinaluse
Malayansoftshellturtle Doganiasubplana As above
Asiangiantsoftshellturtle Pelochelys cantorii Eggsas food,medicinaluse
SoutheastAsianstripedgiant Chitra chitra Probablyas meatsourcein the past
softshellturtle

Bataguridae
Riverterrapin Batagurbaska Eggsas food,medicinaluse
Paintedterrapin Callagurborneoensis As above
Malaysiangiantturtle Orlitia borneoensis Pet trade,meatsource
GiantAsianpondturtle Heosemysgrandis Pettrade.meatsource.religioususe
Spinyturtle Heosemyssp/nosa Pettrade,meatsource,medicinaland
religioususe
Asian leaf turtle Cyclemys dentate Pettrade,meatsource
Asian box turtle Cuoroamboinensis Pettrade,meatsource,religiousand
medicinaluse
Yellow-headedtempleturtle Hieremys annandalii R e l i g i o uuss e
Malayanflat-shelled
turtle Notochelysplatynota Pet trade,meatsource
Malayansnail-eatingturtle Malayemys subtrijuga Meatsource
Blackmarshturtle SiebenrockieIIa crassico//is Pet trade,meatsource

Testudinidae
Asian browntortoise Manouria emys Eggsas food,pet trade,as meatsource
lmpressedtortoise Manouriaimpressa Pet trade,meatsource
Elongatedtortoise lndotestudoelongata Pet trade,meatsource

The recordskeptby the Departmentof Wildlifeand NationalParksMalaysia(DWNP)at the

BukitPalohhead-starting facilityfor riverterrapinsin Terengganu providean indication
of the
trendsin annualeggproduction alongthe Dungunand Terengganu Riversfrom1995-2001
(Fig.3). The figuresdo not representactualpopulationstatussinceeggs are collectedonly
from banksgazettedas sanctuaries. The downwardtrendof the graphis evidentand clearly
indicatesthe steadydeclineof the nestingpopulation of riverterrapinsin Terengganu.In the
Setiu Riverin NorthernTerengganu where no conservation programmeexistsfor the river
terrapin,localegg collectorsreportthatseveralhundrednestsweredepositedannuallyin the
past comparedto 4'1 nests in 2003 and 30 in 2004. ln Perak,the numberof riverterrapin
nestsdepositedalongthe PerakRiverplummetedfrom 1275 in 1993to 48 nestsin 2003
(DWNq unpublished data).

Datafor the paintedterrapin,extractedfrom reportsof the meetingsof the TurtleSanctuary

AdvisoryCouncilof Terengganu from 1989to 2001 (Fig.4) show a declineof overT4o/o
duringthatthat period.Accordingto Sharmaand Tisen(2000),the Setiuand PakaRivers
in Terengganu and the LinggiRiverin Melakaeachsupportpopulations of morethan 100
nestingfemalesper year.

turtles ,,,,trouble
6
 Figure3. Numberof riverterrapineggscollected for
incubation
in Terengganu from 1995- 2001
(Source:Departmentof Wildlifeand NationalParks,Malaysia)

ZZUU
rct
o
o 2000
-g
o
(J 1800
at,
ct)
ct 1600
o
o 1400
o
.cl
E 1200
:
z 1000
1S95

Figure4. Numberof paintedterrapinclutchesdepositedannuallyin Terengganu

from '1990-2001.
(Source:FisheriesDepaftment, Ministryof Agriculture
Malaysia)

800

700

600
o
o
500
o

E 400
o
ci 300
z
200

100

0
19 9 0 1 9 9 1 1 9 9 2 1 9 9 3 1 9 9 4 1 9 9 5 1 9 9 6 1 9 9 7 1 S 9 B 1 9 9 9 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 1

Year

fssr#es frse*&fe
7
 Ga u se so f P o p u l ationDecline

Egg Exploitation

has beennamedas one of the majorcausesthat

A longhistoryof intensiveegg exploitation
has negativelyimpactedon marineas well as freshwaterturtlesin Malaysia.The species
that havebeendecimateddue to egg exploitation includeall fourspeciesof marineturtles
and the riverand paintedterrapins.

In Terengganuand Sarawakwhere hatcheryprogrammesfor marineturtleshave been in

placesincethe 1950'sand 1960's,continued egg harvestfor manydecadeshas led to the
failureto protectsufficientnumbersof eggs requiredfor turtle populationmaintenance.
Governmentsanctioning throughissuanceof licensesand legalsale of
of egg collection
turtleeggs in the marketsof Terengganuto this day has not only continuedto jeopardize
conservationprogrammes,but has encouragedsmugglingof eggs from placeswhere its
saleand exploitationhavebeenbanned(Box2).

Box 2: Cheaper Green Turtle eggs from Sabah a much sought-after item

New StraitsTimes,7 July 2004

KUALATERENGGANU,Tues. - Most of the GreenTurtleeggs that are sold at severalwet

marketsin the town are from Sabahas they are cheaper.

"The local varietyof these turtleeggs are sellingfor about RM2.50each while those from
S a b a ha r e a r o u n dR M 1 . 4 0e a c h , "s a i dH a s m a hM a tZ a i n ,3 4 ,w h o h a s b e e ns e l l i n gt u r t l ee g g s
for the last 10 years.

The highnumberof eggsfromSabahbeingsoldin the Statehasa lotto do withthe pricefactor,

she added.She said the eggs in the marketcame from the GreenTurtleas there was no
restriction
by the authorityon the saleof sucheggsbutthe saleof Leatherback
Turtleeggswas
not allowedin the State.

"GreenTurtleeggs are much smallerin size comparedwith thoseof the Leatherbacks," she
added.Hasmahsaid the increasein priceof localturtleeggsoverthe pastseveralyearswas
due to a steep drop in the numberof turtlesnestingin the State.Althoughsome customers
insiston buyinglocalturtleeggs,mostsettlefor the cheaperonesfrom Sabah,she added.

T u r t l ea n d M a r i n eE c o s y s t e mC e n t r ec h i e f K a m a r u d d i nl b r a h i ms a i d w h i l e t h e r e w a s n o
restriction on the sale of GreenTurtleeggs,the sale mustbe donewithinthe State.

"Thesale of Leatherback
Turtleeggs is totallynot allowed."On our part,we are patrollingthe
beacheshereto make sure all eggs are transferred to out turtlehatcheriesand are safefrom
ooachers."he said.

turtlesi': t'trouble
8
Commercial Harvest and Trade

Turtleshave been traded as an internationalcommodityfor decades,resultingin wide-

spreaddeclinesin localpopulations. the practiceof huntingand slaughtering
In Malaysia,
of marineturtlesfor theirmeat or otherproductsdoes not existamongthe localpopulace.
However,foreign poachersencroachinto Malaysianterritorialwaters and rampantly
harvestthe turtles,especiallygreenturtles(Box 3). Additionally,commercialharvestingof
turtlesin neighbouring countries can impactlocalpopulationssincemarineturtlesare highly
migratory.Satellitetrackingstudieshavedemonstrated thatgreenturtlesthatnestin Redang
lsland,Terengganu and the SarawakTurtlelslandsmigrateto nearshorefeedinggrounds
occurringin the territorialwatersof countriesborderingthe SouthChinaSea as well as the
Sulu-SulawesiSea (Liew ef a/. 1995,Bali,ef al. 2002).The huntingof turtlesin these
countrieshave thereforecontributedto the declineof Malaysiannestingpopulations.

Box 3 : Trawlerwith 130 dead turtles held The Star, 4 May 2004
by MUGUNTANVANAR

KOTAKINABALU:Morethan 130endangeredsea turtlesand 30 turtleshellswere seizedfrom

a C h i n a - r e g i s t e r et rda w l e rt h a t h a d e n c r o a c h e di n t o M a l a y s i a ' sr i c h M e n g a l u mw a t e r s ,2 0
nauticalmilesfrom here
Mostof the sea turtles,believedto be of the Hawksbilland Greenbackspecies,werefounddead
amongthe catchof the Chinesefishermenwhena marinepolicePZ patrolboatwith30 personnel
interceptedthe boataftera shortchaseat 2pm on Sunday.
KotaKinabalumarinepolicecommandingofficer
DeputySupt Paul Khiu Khon Chiangsaid the
40- year-oldskipperand 15 membersof hiscrew,
agedbetween16 and48, had beendetainedto
facilitateinvestigations
by the SabahFisheries
Department.All are reportedto be Chinese
nationals.
DeputySupt Khiu said policebelievedforeign
fishingboatshad beenslippingintoMengalum
waterson severaloccasionsto catchsea turtles
andthisseizurewas the largestinvolvingthese
turtlesin Sabah.
DSPKhiu(middle)
Confiscated: andhisofficers
inspecting
thedeadtuftles
in KotaKinabalu "We believethat the fishermenhad been in our
watersfor abouttwo days and were targeting
the sea turtlesfound in abundancein the Mengalumarea,"he said, addingthat the crew left
H a i n a nC
, h i n a ,t w o w e e k sa g o .
A totalof 130deadturtlesand threeliveonesas well as 30 turtleshellswere recoveredfromthe
trawler. lt was learntthat the turtlescouldbe preservedby stuffingor taxidermyand sold in the
open marketfor a high price.
State FisheriesDepartmentenforcementand preventivechief Sapli Muloksaid investigations
werecentredon the Fisheries Act. The skipperof any foreignvesselencroaching
intoMalaysian
waters,he said,faceda maximumfineof RMl milwhileeachcrewmemberfaced oneof RM100,000
in defaultof a jail term underSection15 of the Act.
Saplisaidthe departmentwouldalso look intothe Act for actionto be takenfor offencesrelated
to the catchingof endangeredspecies,addingthat suchoffenceswouldalso be discussedwith
the stateWildlifeDepartment.
The skipperand the crew would be broughtto courttomorrowfor a remandorderto facilitate
furtherinvestioations
intotheiractivities.

turtle'':;trouble
9
Malaysiais activelyinvolvedin the international trade of freshwaterturtlesand tortoises
wherethey are exportedfor meat,traditionalmedicine,as petsand curiosand for religious
release(Compton,2000).The volumetradedis alarming(Tables2 and 3) and has caused
the widespreadcollapseof local populationsin non-protected areas.The non-native
speciespurportedlyexportedfrom Malaysiais an indicationof the role of Malaysiaas a
transitcenterin wildlifetrade that is both legaland illegal.Chiew (2003)highlightsthe
emergenceof Peninsular Malaysiaas a regionalwildlifetransitcenter.

Fisherieslmpacts

Incidentalcapturesin fishing nets has been cited as the major threat to the survivalof
marineturtlesworldwide.ln the southAtlanticand Gulf of Mexico.shrimotrawlscatch
47,000marineturtlesannuallywith 11,000of themresulting (National
in mortality Research
C o u n c i l1, 9 9 0 ) .

ln Malaysiathe fishing industryis well establishedin coastalareas where marineturtle

nestingoccurs.Fishinggearsuchas trawlnets,driftnets,fishtraps,longlines,purseseines,
ray nets(pukatpari),liftnet,and evenbeachseineshavebeenidentified to impacton sea
turtles(Chanand Liew,2002).Rate of capturein Terengganuwas high in the past where
over 700 turtleswere estimatedto drown in trawl nets each year (Chan ef a/., 1988),
comparedto morerecentestimatesof 50 turtlesdrowningper year (Chanand Liew,2002).
Fishingmortalityis corroboratedby strandingsof turtleswhere a total of 188 carcasses
attributedto incidentalcapturesin fishinggear have been recoveredfrom the beachesof
Terengganubetween1990-95(Ramliand Hiew,1999).Fishingmortalityoccursboth in
inshoreterritorialwaters,and on the high seas which are traversedby the turtlesduring
theirlong-distance migrationsbetweenfeedingand nestinggrounds.

Fishingactivitiesin riverswhere freshwaterturtlesreside are known to be detrimental.

Althoughno datais availableto quantifythe threat,interviews
withlocalfishermenindicate
that the terrapinsare caughtin hook and linesand othertraditional gear.Poisonfishing
althoughout-lawed,is stillcarriedout and is certainto impacton turtlesand many other
non-targetedspecies.

Habitat Destruction

The habitatsaffectedincludenestingandfeedinggrounds.Lossof nestinghabitatfor marine

turtles is expectedin Malaysiawhere prime beachesare being developedfor tourism.
Exceptin placeswhereturtlesanctuaries havebeenestablished (e.9.Sabahand Sarawak
Turtlelslands;RantauAbang and Ma'Daerahin Terengganu), beachfrontdevelopment
threatenotherexistingnestingbeaches.In Perhentian lsland,Terengganu, beachchalets
were underconstruction on a majornestingbeachwhenvisitedby the authoras recentlyas
June2003.PulauUpehin Melaka,an important nestingsitefor theonlyremaining hawksbill
population of importancein Peninsular Malaysiahas also been recentlysold to a private
conglomerate for development(Hiewand Sharma,pers.comm.).Besidesdevelopment,
activitiessuch as beachrestoration, constructionof seawallsand jettiesoftenalternesting
beachesand renderthem unsuitable for nestinq.

Feedinggroundsof marineturtlesincludeseagrassbeds (for greenturtles)and coralreefs

wherehawksbillturtlesfeedonspongesgrowingamongthecoral. Lossofsuchhabitatsthrough
sedimentation,
nutrientrun-off,coralmining,climatechange,destructive
fishingmethods,boat
anchoringand tourismactivitiesdirectlyreducefoodsourcesavailable
to the turtles.

turtles trouble
10
 Table2. Exportof freshwaterturtlesfrom PeninsularMalaysiafrom
Januaryto October1999(Source:Department of Wildlifeand
NationalParks,Malaysia,and extracted from Sharmaand Tisen,2000)

Species Quantity Source

Amyda caftilaginea 8,773 witd
Pelochelys cantorii 4,300 witd
Cuoro amboinensis 456,541 witd
SiebenrockieIIa c rassicolIis 135,121 witd
Heosemys grandis 325,325 witd
Orlitia borneoensls 21,972 witd
Notochelysplatynota 12,300 witd
Pelodiscus slnensis ,253,712 Captivebred
Trachemysscriptaelegans 251,460 Captivebred

Table3. CITEStradedata on turtlesexportedfrom Malaysiafrom

1998-2002 (courtesy
of HelenCorrigan,Citestradedataprogramme
officerof the UNEP-WorldConservationMonitoringCentrein Cambridge)

ReportedQuantity(No.of lifeanimals)by
Species Exporter(Malaysia)
2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
FreshwaterTurtles
Callagurborneoensis 428 6 7RO 274 47

Tortoises
Cuora amboinensis 38,746 3 5 , 0 3 6 27,7190
Geochelone carbonaria* z

Geochelone denticulate* 1
Geochelonegigantea* Z

Geochelonepardalis* 15
Geochelonesulcata* I 4 4 1
Kinixys belliana* '10
Kinixyshomeana* 2
lndotestudoelongata 700 550 olo 941
Manouria emys 164 '188 ,lAn
48 219
Manouria impressa 4 2 7q

*non-native
species,probablyon transitin Malaysia

turtles, ,;'trouhle
11
Nestinghabitatsfor riverterrapinsare destroyedby sand-mining and construction
of dams.
Directevidenceexistsfor the BesutRiverin Terengganuwhere localegg collectorsreport
that the terrapinsaborttheirnestingactivitieswhen the egg chambersexcavatedreachthe
water table due to loss of sand. When water is releasedfrom dams, nestinghabitats
becomeinundated, oftensubmerging anddestroying nestsundergoingincubation.
lmpacts
from dam construction occurin the Terenqqanu. Perakand MudaRivers.

Pollution

Pollutioncan degradefeedinggroundsand impacton marineturtles.There is ample

evidenceof pollutionand persistent
debrisin the SouthChinaSea (Lawand Rahimi,1986;
Chanef a/.,1996;Chanand Liew,2003),althoughno studieshavebeenconductedlocally
to determinethe interactions.Organochlorine compounds,heavymetals,hydrocarbons
and radionuclideshave beenfoundin the eggsand tissuesof severalspecresof marine
turtlesin the US,Ascensionlslandand France,buttheirphysiological
effectsare not known
(NationalResearchCouncil,1990).
1
The increasing in somemarineturtlepopulations
incidenceof fibropapillomatosis is attributed
to marinepollutionthatweakensthe immunesystemand contrrbutes to the onsetof disease
(George,1997).The diseaseis manifestedas tumoursthat occur in the conjunctiva, chin,
neck,flippers,baseof tail,as wellas in the lungs,liver,digestivetract,and kidneys.ltaffects
mostlygreenturtlesand has beenreportedin over90%of the individuals in somepopulations.
As of now,noneof the turtlescomingashoreto neston Malaysianbeacheshavebeenfound
to sufferfrom fibropapillomatosis.

Persistent marinedebrisis of seriousconcernas numerouscasesof accidental ingestion of

plasticbagsand entanglement in monofilament fishinglineand discarded fishingnetshave
been documented(NationalResearchCouncil,1990).ln Redanglsland,the authorhas
r e c e i v e dn u m e r o u sr e p o r t so f j u v e n i l eg r e e n a n d h a w k s b i ltl u r t l e sf o u n d d e a d a n d
entangledin netsleftdiscardedin the sea.

River pollutionresultingfrom agriculturalrun-offand factoryeffluentscan cause direct

massivekillsof terrapins,as reportedin the SetiuRiverseveralyearsago (Sharma,pers.
comm.).Suchpollution alsoimpactson foodsourcesthatarevitalforthesustenance of the
terraoins.

Negative lmpacts of Tourism

Marineturtlescan be usedto promotetourismin a non-consumptive way. However,negative

impactsbecomeevidentwhen guidelinesfor turtlewatchingand conservation are not
adequatelylaiddownor mandated.Over-development of fragileislandsthat providenesting
sites for marineturtlescan quicklylead to the destructionof nestingas well as feeding
habitats.Increasedspeedboattrafficis oftenassociated with increasedmortalities of turtles
causedby propellerhits. Activitiessuchas snorkeling
and SCUBAdivingcan be incompatible
with turtleswhen touristsare ill informedand negativelyimpacton turtlesin the water by
handling, grabbing,or ridingthem.
I
Currently,there is no existingtourismactivityassociatedwith riverterrapinsand their
habitats.Any plansto introducesuchprogrammes haveto considerall potentialnegative I
impactsand providemeasuresto mitigatethem.

turtles, ::trouhle
12
InadequateLegislation

Legislation on marineturtles(includingthe paintedterrapin)in Malaysiais providedfor

underthe FisheriesAct '1985.However,provisionsof this FederalAct relatingto turtlesand
riverinefisheriesis underthe purviewof the differentstatesof the country,and do not come
into operationunlessthey have been adoptedand providedfor by the legislatureof the
States.

Currently,
exceptfor Sarawakwhichhas updatedconservation measuresunderthe Wildlife
ProtectionOrdinance1998(Tisenand Bali,2000),and Sabahwhichprohibitscommercial
exploitation
of marineturtlesand theireggs,legislation in the otherstatesis inadequate.
Thereis no uniformity
and in PeninsularMalaysia, all turtleeggs(exceptleatherback eggs
in Terengganu and Pahang)are freelyand legallytradedin the localmarkets.

Onefisherieslaw introducedprimarilyfortheprotectionof marineturtlesis applicable

through-
out PeninsularMalaysia.The Fisheries Regulations (Prohibitionof FishingMethods)1985,
Amendment1989bansthe use of largemesh(exceeding 24.5 cm)sunkengillnetsfor the
captureof rays.The ineffectivenessof this law becamequiteclearwhen fishermenstarted
to reducethe mesh size of their nets and continuedto drownturtles.One solutionto this
problemwouldbe to ban the use of any sunkengill net in offshoreareasadjacentto nesting
groundsduringthe nestingseason.The internestingrange of the turtleshave to be
determinedto ensureadequatecoverageof the offshorearea that is to be protected.

The WildlifeAct1972whichappliesonlyto PeninsularMalaysiaprovidesprotectionto non-

marinewild animalscoveringmammals,birds,reptilesand insectsthat have been listed
underseveralcategoriesof protection. Strangely,all speciesof turtleshave been excluded
and this has leftthem extremelyvulnerableto exploitation(Sharmaand Tisen,2000). The
urgentneedto includeall speciesof tortoisesandfreshwater turtlesin the listsprovidedunder
the WildlifeAct 1972 has to be addressedby DWNP,the agencyresponsiblefor the
implementation and enforcementof theAct.

It is apparentthat legislationin Malaysiathat accordsprotectionto marineand freshwater

turtlesand tortoisesis inadequateand variesfrom Stateto State.There is thus a need at
the federallevelto reviewand harmonizeall existingstatelegislature into a uniformand
effectivelegislationfor adoptionby all states.

Lack of Research

Whilenestingpopulations of marineturtlesare beingmonitoredat majornestinggroundsin

Malaysiato provideinformationon trends and populationsize, basic studieson the
distributionand populationstatusof freshwaterturtlesand tortoisesare severelylacking.
The effectiveness of restockingprogrammesfor the riverterrapinsin the Muda,Perak,and
TerengganuRiverscarriedout by DWNP have not been scientifically evaluated.Although
theseprogrammeshavebeenin placefor morethan20 years,the riverterrapinpopulations
in the three river systemshave continuedto decline.There is a need not just to assess
theseprogrammes, but to identifythreatswhichimpacton the wild populations
in orderto
introducemeasuresto mitigatethem.

Althoughmarineturtlenestingpopulations are beingmonitored, gaps stillexist in many

researchareascriticalto the conservation needsof the turtles.Thereis littledataavailable
on the fishingmortalityof the majorturtlepopulationsand virtuallynothingis knownof in-

turtlest, ,trouble
13
water distributionand habitatrequirementsof marineturtles. Researchgaps have to be
identified
in orderto mobilizethe necessarystudiesand to sourcefundingsupport.

Lack of Corordinationand a NationalPolicy on Turtles

Lack of coordinatedefforts between the various agencies which undertaketurtle

conservation programmes,and the lack of a nationalpolicyor strategicplan on turtle
conservationcan hamperthe recoveryof turtle populationsand cause them to continue
declining.In Malaysia,the lack of uniformmeasuresto secureand protectimportant
nesting habitatshas resultedin the loss and degradationof some importantsites.
Likewise,the lackof a comprehensive recoveryplanto revitalizedecliningpopulationshas
contributedto theircontinuinqdecline.

Gonservationand ManagementMeasuresUndertakenin Malaysia

Legislation

Federallegislationapplicableto marineand freshwaterturtlesand tortoises(the Fisheries

Act 1985and the WildlifeAct 1972)and theireffectivenesshas beendiscussedearlier.

Two federal fisherieslaws providedunder the FisheriesAct 1985 are rn effect for the
offshoreprotectionof marineturtlesand they are the FisheriesRegulations(Prohibitionof
FishingMethods)1985,Amendment1989(coveredearlier)and the Fisheries(Prohibited
Areas)(RantauAbang)Regulations 1991. The lattercreatedan offshoresanctuaryin Rantau
Abangwherefishingactivitiesare regulatedduringthe nestingseasonto accordprotection
to leatherbackturtles. Enforcementis importantif the requlationis to be effective.

Currently,only six statesin PeninsularMalaysia(K"d;, Kelantan,TerengganuJohor,

Melaka,and NegeriSembilan)havelegislation relatedto the exploitation,
licensingfor egg
collectionand possessionor killingof marineturtles.None of the freshwaterturtlesand
tortoisesare covered(Gregoryand Sharma,1997).Perak'sRiverRightsEnactment 1915,
stillin effecttoday,prohibitsthe trappingof turtlesduringfive monthsof the year and killing
of turtles (belongingto the genera Orlitia,Callagur and Batagur)at any time without
permission.lt alsograntsexclusiverightsto the Rulerof the Stateto taketurtleeggsalong
specifiedareasof the PerakRiver. lt is understoodthat Perakis in the processof preparing
new and more effectivelegislationto protectthe turtles(Sharmaand Tisen,2000).

Legislationin the statesof Sarawakand Sabahin East Malaysiaaccordsbetterprotection

to turtles.In Sarawak,the Wild LifeProtection Ordinance1998listsall marineturtlesand
the freshwaterturtles, Orlitia borneoensisand Callagurborneoensisas "TotallyProtected
Species"while other freshwaterturtlesand tortoisesare listed as "ProtectedSpecies."
Underthis ordtnance, prohibitionson tradeand exportof turtlesincludingtheireggs,any
derivativesor their parts,provideadequatelegalprotectionto the turtles.

In Sabah,all speciesof animalsfoundwithinthe boundaries of Sabah'sStateParksare

protectedunderthe ParksEnactment1984.All marineturtlesnestingin theworld-renowned
SabahTurtlelslandsParkare thereforefullyprotected.In non-protectedareas,the Wildlife
Enactment1997has a listof "Protected Species"thatneedto be updatedas notall species
of freshwaterturtlesand tortoiseshave been included.

turtles trouhle
14
Egg Protection

Malaysiahas a long historyof turtleegg protectionprogrammes,comparedto otherSouth-

east Asiancountries.lncubationof marineturtleeggs in hatcheries was initiatedin the
early1950'sin Sarawakand 1960'sin Terengganu and Sabah,1971inPahangand early
1990'sin Melakaand Perak.Exceptfor the Sabahpopulations, most of theseeffortshave
not been manifestedin populationrecoverybecauseof inadequatenumbersof eggs
orotected.

Sabahstartedprotectingcloseto 100% of the turtleeggs depositedin the Sabah Turtle

lslandsin the early1970'sfollowedby Sarawakin 1999.The currentlevelof egg protection
i n T e r e n g g a n ui s e s t i m a t e da t o n l y 5 0 % . I n a d d i t i o nt o t h e e f f o r t so f t h e F i s h e r i e s
Department,Ministryof AgricultureMalaysia,concernedturtle scientistsof KUSTEM
have raisedthe level of egg protectionby securingeggs from a major nestingbeach in
Redanglsland,Terengganufor incubationsince 1993 (Chan and Liew, 1999).Turtle
conservationists advocatethat in healthypopulations, at least70o/o of the eggs deposited
must be incubatedto ensurepopulation sustainability. In impoverished populations, it is
imperativethat 100%of the eggs be protectedto providehope for populationrecovery.

DWNPhas beensecuringriverterrapineggsfrom sand banksgazettedas protectedareas

alongthe Perak,Muda (in Kedah),Terengganu and Dungun(in Terengganu) Riversfor
incubation and subsequentheadstarting
sincethe 1970's. None of these riversystems
have shown any populationrecoveryand as discussedearlier,studiesare neededto
assessthe efficacyof these programmesand to identifyfactorsthat continueto threaten
the fragilepopulations
in theseareas.

Paintedterrapins,by reasonof the fact that they migrateto coastalwatersand nest along
b e a c h e s ,c o m e u n d e r t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n
o f t h e F i s h e r i e sD e p a r t m e n tT. h e d e p a r t m e n t
purchases the eggsfromlicensedegg collectors for incubation in government hatcheries in
Terengganu and Melaka. As in riverterrapins, therehas been no evidenceof population
recoveryin thesetwo states.

Establishmentof Sanctuaries/ ProtectedAreas

Turtlesanctuaries havebeenestablished at somekey nestinglocationsshownin Table4. In

orderto secureall nestingsitesof significanceand to preventthemfromfurtherdegradation,
more sanctuaries be
should established at the locationsshown in Table5. As long as
importantnestingsitesare not accordedsanctuarystatus,development will take placeand
alongrivers,sandbanks willbe mined,rendering themunsuitable for turtlenesting.

Reductionof Fishing Mortality

Twofisherieslaws primarilyfor the protectionof marineturtlesare in effect(seesectionon

Legislation) in Malaysia.Otherregulations such as zoningregulations providedfor under
the FisheriesAct '1985prohibitany form of trawlingwithin five nauticalmiles of the
shoreline.This can adequatelyprotectmarineturtlesfrom trawlersduringthe nesting
season.In MarineParkswherenestingsitesof greenand hawksbill turtlescan be found,
Parkregulations prohibitfishingwithina radiusof two nauticalmilessurrounding the island
or islandgroups.Thesemeasuresareeffectivein protecting theturtlesduringthe internesting
periodsas they havebeenfoundto remainwithinone nauticalmileof the shoreline(Liew
a n d C h a n .1 9 9 3 ) .

turtles tr*ub8*
15
Malaysiais implementing the Codeof Conductfor Responsible and by doingso
Fisheries
contributesto the reductionof bv-catchthat includemarineturtles.

Table4. Turtlesanctuaries
that havebeenestablished
in Malavsia.

YEAR
STATE NAMEOF SANCTUARY
ESTABLISHED

Terengganu RantauAbangTudle Sanctuary 1988

Ma' DaerahTurtleSanctuary 2003
PasirTemir,HuluTerengganu 1977
PasirLubokKawah,HuluTerengganu I 978
P a s i rK u m p a lD
, ungun 19 9 1

Perak PantaiJabatan.PerakRiver 1975(?\

TurtlelslandsPark '1984
Sabah

Sarawak Talang-Satang
NationalPark 1999

Table5. Turtlenestingsitesthat shouldbe declaredturtlesanctuaries

(afterSharmaand Hiew,2003)

STATE LOCATIONOF NESTINGSITES

Terengganu Nestingbeacheson Redanglsland

Nestingbeacheson Perhentianlsland
SetiuRiverlagoonand rivermouth

Pahang Beachat Cherating

Perak SegariBeach

Melaka P u l a uU p e h
TanjongTuan
Beachat PengkalanBalak

turtles,;,,trouble
16
Public Education

Publiceducationand awarenessis oftencitedas an importantissuein the conservation of

endangered species.The Malaysianpublicis quitewell-informedof the statusof marine
turtlesin the countryas the localmediahas providedamplecoverage.Otheractivitiessuch
as long-termturtlevolunteerprogrammes,turtlecampsand otherawarenessprogrammes
conductedby the FisheriesDepartment, WorldWideFundMalaysiaand SEATRU,KUSTEM
havehelpedincreasepublicawarenesson marineturtles.However,awarenessof the plight
of tortoisesand freshwaterturtlesis almostnon-existent.
Someof thesesoecieshavebeen
traditionally servedin Chineserestaurantsas exoticsoups. In order to halt the trade,
education as well as appropriate
legislation
is necessary.

Regionaland InternationalConventionsand Agreements

A t t h e r e g i o n a l e v e l ,s o m e i n i t i a t i v e sh a v e b e e n m a d e t o d e v e l o pr e g i o n a lm a r i n e
c o n s e r v a t i o np r o g r a m m e sT. h e T u r t l e l s l a n d sH e r i t a g eP r o t e c t e dA r e a ( T I H P A ) ,a
transboundary protectedarea in the SuluSeawas establishedin 1996betweenSabahand
the Philippines to managejointlythe largemarineturtlepopulations occurringthere.The
MoUon ASEANSea TurtleConservation and Protectionwas signedin 1997whilethe MoU
on the Conservation and Management of MarineTurtlesand their Habitatsof the lndian
Oceanand SoutheastAsia was concludedin 200'1.Malaysiahas yet to ratifythe latter.

At the globallevel,the Conventionon lnternational

Tradein EndangeredSpeciesof Wild
Faunaand Flora(CITES),to which Malaysiais party,servesto curb internationaltrade of
marineturtlesand theirparts.Otherconventionslikethe Conventionon BiologicalDiversity
and Conventionon Wetlandsof International lmportanceEspeciallyas WaterfowlHabitat,
that have been ratifiedby Malaysia,promoteconservationof wild animalsand plantsthat
includesturtles.

Gontributionsof KUSTEMin Turtle Researchand Conservation

The involvement of KUSTEMin turtleresearchand conservation datesbackto the mid 1980's

whenitwasthenstillpartof Universiti
PutraMalaysia. Thescientistsformeda unitknownas the
SeaTurtleResearchUnit(SEATRU)with researchinitially
focusedon the leatherback butwas
expandedlaterto includethe otherspeciesof marineturtles.Realisingthe sururvalcrisisfacing
the country'sfreshwaterturtlesand tortoises,a riverterrapinresearchand conservation
programme for Terengganu was launchedin 2003.Plansareundenruay to conductfieldstudies
on otheraquaticand semi-aquatic speciesas well the tortoisesbecauseinformation on the
and statusof wildpopulations
distribution is severelylacking,

With the inclusionof studieson freshwaterturtlesand tortoises,the name of SEATRUis

being changed to the Centre for Turtle Researchand Conservation(CTReC).The
formationof CTReChas beenapprovedby KUSTEM'sBoardof Directorsand a proposalis
b e i n g s u b m i t t e d f o r f u n d i n g u n d e r t h e 9 t h M a l a y s iW
a Pi tlhatnh.e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f C T R e C ,
the name of KUSTEM will be reinforcedas the center of excellencefor the studv and
conservation of all soeciesof turtlesin Malavsia.

On-goingand completedresearchactivitiescarriedout by KUSTEMscientistson turtles

a r e s h o w ni n B o x 4 . T h i s r e s e a r c hh a s r e s u l t e di n t h e p u b l i c a t i o o
nf o v e r 1 3 0a r t i c l e s

,tfOUble
tUrtleS;,,,.
17
coveringscientificpapers in peer-reviewed journals,conferenceproceedings,workshop
reports,unpublishedreportsand educationalmaterials(see Box 5 for a selectionof these
works).The vital informationresultingfrom completedresearchhas formedthe basisfor
importantrecommendations made by KUSTEMto relevantgovernmental agenciesfor the
conservationof marineturtlesin Malavsia(seeTable6 for some examples).

Box 4: On-goingand completedturtle researchcarriedout in KUSTEM

1. Riverterrapinresearchand conservation programein Terengganu. Seedmoneyhas beenawardedby
theTurtleConservationFund(TCF)administered in USA. Fundingapplicationfrom IRPA(grantsawarded
of Researchin PriorityAreas by the Ministryof Science,Technology
for the Intensification and the
Environment Malaysia)is in process.

2. Satellite turtlesfromChagarHutangBeach,Redanglsland,a jointresearchproject

trackingof hawksbill
withthe SouthwestFisheriesScienceCenterHonoluluLaboratory,NationalMarineFisheries
of NOAA,
USA.The satellitetransmitterandArgosservicewas fullysponsoredby NOAA.

3. Satellite{racking jointlywith Prof.WataruSakamotofrom

projecton Malaysiansea turtles,conducted
Kyoto University,Japan.The satellitetransmitterand Argos seryicewas fully sponsoredby Kyoto
University.

4. Taggingand nestingresearchon the sea turtlesof PulauRedang.This projectwas initiatedin 1993in

PulauRedangand is now continuedas a long-term on-goingproject.lt was supportedby lRPAfunding
underthe 6thMalaysiaPlanand is now supportedby fundsgeneratedfrom donationsmadeby private
corporations, schoolsand the public.
international

5. of greenturtleeggsin Redanglsland.Thison-goingprojectis alsosupportedby funds

/n-sltuincubation
generatedfrom donationsmadeby privatecorporations, schoolsand the public.
international

6. Radio,ultrasonicand satellitetrackingof sea turtlesfrom the SarawakTurtlelslands,a completed

projectconductedjointlywiththe SarawakForestryCorporationand fullyfundedby IRPAgrantsawarded
to SarawakForestry.

7. Sex ratiostudieson the greenturtlesof the SarawakTurtlelslands.Fundedas in above.

8. Taggingand nestingresearchon the sea turtlesof Sabahand SarawakTurtlelslands.Carriedout as

finalyear researchprojectsof undergraduates.

9. Radio,ultrasonic Fundedby an IRPAgrantto

and satellitetelemetryof the greenturtlesof Terengganu.
KUSTEMscientists.

10. Radio-tracking with

the internestingmovementsof leatherbackturtles.Carriedout in collaboration
Drs. Scott and Karen Eckertof USA and fundedjointlyby an IRPAgrantand the Terengganu State
Government.

turtles.Carriedout and fundedas above.

11. Divingbehaviourof leatherback

12. Geneticstudieson Malaysiansea turtles.Fundedby an IRPAgrantto KUSTEMscientists.

. a r r i e do u t i n c o l l a b o r a t i ownr t h D r . S a l l y S o l o m o no f t h e
1 3 . U l t r a s t r u c t u roef s e a t u r t l ee g g s h e l l sC
University of Glasgowduringthe author'ssabbatical leave.

14. Factorseffectinghatchingsuccessof sea turtleeggs.Fundedby the Terengganu

StateGovernment.

15. Sex-ratiostudieson Malaysiansea turtles.Fundedby grantsfrom lRPAandEssoProduction

Malaysia
S d n .B h d .
'16. Effectsof fishinggear on sea turtles.Fundedby a grantfrom EssoProduction
MalaysiaSdn.Bhd.

17. Associationof sea turtleswith offshoreplatforms.Carriedout collaboratively

with Esso Production
S d n .B h d .
Malaysia

18. Effectsof oil pollutionon sea turtles.Carriedout as a reviewof publishedliterature.

fus€fes frcss&fe
18
Box 5: A selectionof publishedwork by KUSTEMscientists.

1. Chan,E.H.in press.Marineturtlesin Malaysia:On the vergeof extinction? In:AquaticEcosystems of

Malaysia:Health,Sustainability and Management. EcovisionWorldMonographSeries.
2. Chan,E.H.& Shephard,C.R.2002,MarineTurtles:The scenarioin SoutheastAsia. TropicalCoasts,
Vol.9(2) : 38-43
3. ChanE.H.& Liew,H.C.2002.Savingthe turtlessavesourselves. UN Chronicle, Vol.XXXIX(1) : 38-39
4. Chan E.H. & Liew, H.C. 2002. Raisingfunds and publicawarenessin sea turtleconservationin
Malaysia.Pp.25-26 in: Mosier,A, A. Foleyand B. Brost(compilers). Proceedings of the 20thAnnual
Symposiumon Sea TurtleBiologyand Conservation. NOAATech.Memo.NMFS-SEFSC-477.
5. Bali,J., Liew,H.C.,Chan,E.H, & Tisen,O.8.2002.Longdistancemigrationof greenturtlesfrom the
SarawakTurtlelslands,Malaysia.Pp 32-33in: Mosier,A, A. Foleyand B. Brost(compilers).Proceed-
ingsof the 20thAnnual Symposiumon SeaTurtleBrologyand Conservation. NOAATech.MemoNMFS-
SEFSC.477.
6. Liew,H.C. & E.H. Chan.2002.An Analysisof TaggingData on the GreenTurtlesof Redanglsland,
Malaysia.Pp. 135-136in: Mosier,A, A. Foleyand B. Brost(compilers). Proceedings of the 20rhAnnual
Symposiumon Sea TurtleBiologyand Conservation. NOAATech.MemoNMFS-SEFSC-477.
7. C h a n ,E . H . a n d H . C .1 i e w . 2 0 0 1 .S e a T u r t l e sP. p . 7 4 - 7 5i n : O n g ,J . E .a n d W . K .G o n g( e d s . ) .T h e
Encyclopaedia of Malaysia, V. 6: The Seas. EditionsDidierMillet,KualaLumpur.
8. Chan,E.H.2000.And the giantsascendedno more.Millenium MarkerStory.10 January2000,Section
2. The Star.Po. B & 10.
9. Chan,E.H.and H.C.Liew.1999.Hawksbillturtles,Erefmochelys imbricatanestingon Redanglsland,
Terengganu, Malaysiafrom'1993 to 1997.ChelonianConservation and Biology.3(2) :326-329
10. Chan,E.H.,J.Josephand H.C.Liew.'1999. Astudyon the hawksbill turtles(Eretmochelys imbricata) of
Gulisaan,SabahTurtlelslands,Malaysia.SabahParksJournal.2:11-23
1 1. C h a n , E . H . a n d H . C . L i el 9w9.6 . D e c l i n e o f t h e l e a t h e r b a c k p o p u l a t i o n i n T e r e n g g a n u1 ,9M5 a6 l-a y s i a ,
1995.ChelonianConservation and Biology.2(2):196-203.
12. Chan,E.H.andH.C.Lie l 9w9.6 . A M a n a g e m e n t P l a n f o r t h e G r e e n a n d H aTwukr st lbei P l lo p u l a t i o n s o f
t h e S a b a h T u r t l el s l a n d s A . R e p o r tt o S a b a h P a r k s .S E A T R U ,F a c u l t yo f A p p l i e dS c i e n c ea n d
Technology, Universiti PertanianMalaysiaTerengganu. 102 pp.
13. Chan,E.H.and H.C.Liew.1996.lncubation temperatures and sex-rations in the Malaysian leatherback
turlle,Dermochelyscoriacea.Biol.Conserv.2(2): 196-203
14. Chan, E.H. and H.C. Liew.1995.In-situincubationof greenturtleeggs in PulauRedang,Malaysia:
Hope after decadesof egg exploitation. Proc. International Congressof ChelonianConservation,
6 - 1 0J u l y1 9 9 5 ,G o n f a r o nF, r a n c eP , p.68-72.
15. L i e w ,H . C . a n d E . H . C h a n . 1 9 9 5 .L o n g d i s t a n c em i g r a t i o no f g r e e nt u r t l e sf r o m R e d a n gl s l a n d ,
Malaysia: The needfor regionalcooperation in sea turtleconservation. Proc.International Congressof
ChelonianConservation, 6-10 Julv'1995, Gonfaron,France.Pp. 73-75.
16. C h a n ,E . H .1 9 9 3 .I n t e r a c t i o nbse t w e e nf i s h e r i easn d s e a t u r t l e sF. i s h m a i l , 5 ( 3p) p, . 1 2 - 1 5 .
17. Chan,E.H. 1993,The conservation-related biologyand ecologyof the leatherback turtle,Dermochelys
coriacea, in RantauAbang,Terengganu, Malaysia. Ph.D. dissertation, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima,
Jaoan.
18. Liew,H.C. and E.H. Chan. 1993.Biotelemetry of greenturtles(Cheloniamydas)in Pulau Redang,
Malaysiaduringthe internesting period.Pp. 157-163in : P.Mancini,S. Fioretti, C. Cristalli and R. Bedini
(eds.).Proceedings of the TwlefthInternational Symposiumon Biotelemetry, 31 Aug. - 5 Sept. 1992,
Ancona,ltaly.
19. Chan,E.H.,S.A.Eckert,H.C.LiewandK.L.Eckert.1991, Locating theinternesting habrtats of leatherback
turtles(Dermochelys coriacea)in Malaysian watersusingradiotelemetry. Pp. 133-138 in : A. Uchiyama
and C.J.Amlaner,Jr.(eds.),Biotelemetry Xl: Proc.EleventhInternational Symposiumon Biotelemetry.,
29 Aug. - 4 Sept.1990,Yokohama,Japan.WasedaUniversity Press,Tokyo,Japan.
20. Chan,E.H.and H.C.Liew.1990.The offshoreprotection of Malaysianleatherback turtles.Pp. 213-218
in : S.M.Phang,A. Sasekumarand S. Vickineswary (eds.).ResearchPriorities for MarineB Nov.1989.
Universiti Malaya,KualaLumpur.
21. Chan, E.H. 1990.Educational materialson sea turtles- producedby the Sea TurtleResearchand
Conservation Project,Universiti PertanianMalaysia.Pp. 289-290in : S.M. Phang,S. Sasekumarand
S. Vickinneswary (eds.).ResearchPriorities for MarineSciences, Proc.12thAnnualSeminar,Malaysian
Societyof MarineSciences,1B Nov.'1989.Universiti Malaya,KualaLumpur.
22. Chan,E.H.and H.C. Liew.1989.Chartingthe movementsof a sea giant.ResearchNews,Universiti
P e r t a n i aMn a l a y s i a3,( 4 ) ,p p 1 , 7& 8 .
23. C h a n , E . H . a n d H . C . L i e w . 1 9 8 9 .T h e l e a t h e r b a ctku r t l e :A M a l a y s i a nH e r i t a g eT. r o p i c a P l ress,
Malaysia.49 pp.
24. Chan, E.H. and S.E. Solomon. '1989.
The structureand functionof the eggshellof the leatherback
turtle,(Dermochelyscoriacea)from Malaysia,with noteson infectivefungalforms.AnimalTechnology,
40 (2),pp. 91-102

turtles trauble
19
Box 5: A selectionof publishedwork by KUSTEMscientists.(cont'd)

25. Chan, E.H. 1989.White spot development,incubationand hatchingsuccessof leatherbackturtle

(Dermochelys coriacea)eggsfrom RantauAbang,Malaysia.Copeia,1989(1),pp.42-47.
26. Chan, E.H. 1988.A note on the feedingof leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea)hatclings.Pertanika,
1 1 ( 1 )p, p . 1 4 7 - 1 4 9 .
27. Chan,E.H.,H.C. Liewand A.G. Mazlan.'1988.The incidental captureof sea turtlesin fishinggear in
Terengganu, Malaysia.Biol.Conserv., 43(1),pp. 1-7.
2 8 . C h a n , E . Hl.9 S S . A n u p d a t e o n t h e l e a t h e r b a c k t u r t l e s o f R a n t a u A b a n g , T e r e n g g a n u , M a l a y s i a . M a r i n e
TurtleNewsletter.42. o. 4.
29. Chan,E.H.and H.C.Liew.1988.A reviewon the effectsof oil-basedactivities and oil pollutionon sea
turtles.Pp. 159-167in :A. Sasekumar, R. D'Cruzand S.L.H.Lim (eds.).ThirtyYearsof MarineScience
Researchand Development. Proc. EleventhAnnualSeminar.26 March 1988.MalaysianSocietyof
MarineSciences,KualaLumpur,Malaysia.
3 0 . C h a n , E . Hl.9 S S . T h e s e a t u r t l e s o f M a l a y s i a : A c o l o u r i n g b o o k w i t h a b itlei nx g
t iunaBla h a s a M a l a y s i a
and English.UniversitiPertanianMalaysia.1B pp.
3 1 . C h a n , E . H . a n d H . C . L i elw9B. E . S e a t u r t l e s t r a n d i n g s i n T e r e n g g a ln6u9. -P' 1p 7. 0 i n A . S a s e k u m a r ,
R. D'Cruzand S.L.H.Lim (eds.).ThirtyYearsof MarineScienceResearchand Development. Proc.
EleventhAnnual Seminar.26 March 1988. MalaysianSocietyof MarineSciences,Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.
32. Chan,E.H. 1987.The sea turtlesof Malaysia.NatureMalaysiana, 12 (1), pp. a-9.
33. Brahim,S., E.H.ChanandA.K. Rahman.1987.An updateon the population statusand conservation of
the leatherback turtlesof Terengganu. Pp.69-77in :A. Sasekumar, S.M.Phangand E.L.Chong(eds.).
TowardsConservingMalaysia'sMarineHeritage.Proc.TenthAnnualSeminar.28 March '1987.
Malaysian
Societyof MarineSciences,KualaLumpur,Malaysia.
34. Chan, E.H. 1986.Development of the whitespot on leatherback eggs.MarineTurtleNewsletter, 39,
o.8.
35. C h a n , E . H . 1 9 8 6 .T h e g i a n t l e a t h e r b a c tku r t l e so f R a n t a uA b a n g ,T e r e n g g a n uP. e l i t a ,1 / 1 9 8 6 ,
pp.24-29.
JO. Chan,E.H. 1985.Twinembryosin unhatchedegg of Dermochelys coriacea.MarineTurtleNewsletter,
32,pp.2-3.
37. Chan,E.H.,H.U.Sallehand H.C.Liew.1985.Effectsof handling on hatchability of eggsof theleatherback
turlle,Dermochelyscoriacea(L.). Pertanika,B(2),pp 265-271.

Table6. Significance/application
of researchfindingsof KUSTEM
in turtleconservation

Research Significance

1 Monitoringthe survivaland growthof head- Providedthe impetusfor the initiation

of a long-
startedrrverterrapinsin the SetiuRiver term egg protectionand head-startingprojecton
the riverterrapinsof the SetiuRiver

Discoveryof long-rangemigratorypathways Expedited the formulation

of regionalmarine
and feedinggroundsof nestingturtlesof turtleagreements and memorandaof under-
PulauRedang. standing.

Determination
of rangeof interesting Led to the establishment
of the RantauAbang
movementsof Ieatherbackturtles. RestrictedFishingZone for the protectionof
leatherback turtles.

Assessmentof conservationstatusand Led to the introductionof in-situegg incubation

hatchery-related
researchof marineturtlesin programmes in Redanglsland.
Terengganu.

Long{ermrn-sltuegg incubation in Chagar Increaseslevelof egg protection

in Pulau
H u t a n gP
, u l a uR e d a n g . Redang.KUSTEMis now responsible for over
70% of the eggsprotectedand incubatedin
PulauRedang.

6 Long{ermtaggingand nestingresearchin Helpsmonitorstatusof an endangered

species
PulauRedang. on a lono{ermbasrs.

turtlesixrtrouble
20
KUSTEMhas also provrdedtrarningto graduatesand undergraduates of the universityby
encouraging themto undertakeresearchon turtles.34 studentresearchprojectson various
aspectsof turtlesare given in Box 6, Some of these studentshave taken on academic
positionsin localuniversities
and continuedto maintaintheirresearchinterestin turtles.

In additionto carryingout scientificresearchto supportturtle conservation,KUSTEM is

also directlyinvolvedin practicalturtleconservationprojects.One of these is the grass-
rootsgreenturtleconservation projectbasedin ChagarHutangBeach,PulauRedang.The
projectintegratesin-situegg incubationwith taggingand nestingresearch,community
e d u c a t i o na n d p a r t i c i p a t i o n
a n d a v o l u n t e e rp r o g r a m m e( t h e S E A T R Uw e b s i t e
',i .'i:.,1a.,'.,-'1.,'L'.,|,.:,:',
i.t-r,:l; providesa description). The projectgained international
recognition when its scientistswere electedto the Global500 Rollof Honourby the United
NationsEnvironment Programmein 2001(seeBox 7 for details).

The newly launchedriverterrapinproject,anotherpracticalconservationprojectaims to

securethe maximumnumberof terrapineggs possiblefor incubation, head-startingand
releaseoverthe nextten years(Chanet al.,2004). Becausethe speciesis recognized as
one of the most criticallyendangeredfreshwaterturtlespeciesin the world,the projecthas
attractedinternational attentionand is orofiledin the Asian TurtleConservationNetwork
website(www.asianturtlenetwork.org). This augerswell as fundingprospectsimprovewith
projectvisibility.

With the knowledgethat publicparticipation is vitalfor the successof conservationwork,

KUSTEMhas developedinnovativepublicparticipation projectsthat serveto educatethe
publicas well as raisefundingnecessaryfor the conservation work. The volunteer,nest,
turtleand terrapinadoptionprogrammes(detailsof adoptionschemesare given in Box 8)
link turtle researchand conservationto the generalpublicand impartto them the notion
that every individualhas a role to performin the conservation of nature.

By takinga multi-pronged approachin the researchand conservation

of turtlesin Malaysia,
KUSTEMhasset a uniqueexamplein itsquestto saveone of the mostendearing, fascinating,
benevolent,yet criticallyendangeredgroupof animalsever to treadthe earth.

C o n cl u d i n gRem ar ks

The turtlesof Malaysiaare in trouble,but if politicalwill existsand agencieschargedwith

protectingthe nation'sturtlesand other concernedinstitutionsand individualscome
togetherto save these remarkablecreatures,they can be assuredof theirrightfulplacein
Malaysia. Whilesomeof the speciesmay appearto be beyondredemption at this stage,
otherspeciescan stillbe foundin largenumbers.Thesespeciesneed immediateurgent
protecttonbeforethey too join the extinctionpathwayof the leatherbacks, oliveridleysand
otherfreshwaterand terrestrialtuftles.

Theestablishment of CTReCin KUSTEMwillconsolidate the positionof the university

as the
for researchand conservation
centreof excellence on all speciesof turtlesin the countryand
perhapsofferhopefor the survivalof turtlesin Malaysia.

turtles| r etrouble
21
Box 6: Graduate and Undergraduate Research on Turtles

Master of Science

1. Soh ChongLeng.Pending.The biologyand ecologyof riverterrapins(Batagurbaska)in Terengganu.

2. ChenPelfNyok.Pending.Head-starting the riverterrapin,(Batagurbaska)in Terengganu,Malaysia.
3. MoritaMasayuki.On-going.Red ant predationof greenturtlenestsand its controlin ChagarHutang,
P u l a uR e d a n g .
4. JamesBali. On-going.Biotelemetric Studieson the greenturtles(Cheloniamydas)of the Sarawak
Turtlelslands.
5. ChaiSauSan.2002Sandtemperatureprofileandsexratioofgreenlurlle(Cheloniamydas) hatchlings
of SarawakTurtlelslands,Malaysia. Pushpalatha M. Palaniappan. 1997.Temperatureprofiling
and sex
ratiosof greenturtlehatchlings (Cheloniamydas)of ChagarHutangBeachin PulauRedang, Terengganu,
Malaysia.
6. JuanitaJoseph.2000.Studieson the population geneticsof green(Cheloniamydas)and hawksbill
(Eretmochelys imbricata)turtlesin MalaysiausingDNA microsatellites.
7. Pushpalatha M. Palaniappan. 1997.Temperature profilingand Sex Ratiosof GreenTurtleHatchlings
(Chelonia mydas)of ChagarHutangBeachin PulauRedang,Terengganu, Malaysia.

Undergraduate Final Year Research

B. AkokAnakRamba.On-going. Ghostcrabpredatron of greenturtlenestsandhatchlings in PulauSatang,

Sarawak.
9. DayangNur Dian bte. Mhd. Dinsik.On-going.Nestsite selectionof greenturtlesin ChagarHutang,
PulauRedang.
10. NinaFinolabte.Alipa,On-going.lsolation and identification of bacteriaoccurring in the sandand nests
of greenturtlesin PulauSelingaan, Sabahand PulauRedang,Terengganu.
11. Soh Chong Leng.2004.A study on the distribution, movementand growthof captive-raised river
terrapins(Batagurbaska)and wild paintedterrapins(Callagurborneoensls) in SetiuRiver.
12. NattanaSimon.2004. Seawardmovementof green turtle(Chelonlamydas)hatchlingsand their
predation in Ma' Daerah,Kerteh,Terengganu.
13. Chan Kian Weng. 2003.Temporalpatternof nocturnalemergenceof Greenfuile (Cheloniamydas)
hatchlings from naturalnestsin ChagarHutang,PulauRedang.
14. PamelaVeronicaMarsh.2003.Relationship betweenclutchsize and hatchingsuccessof the Green
fufle (Cheloniamydas)in ReCanglsland.
15. C h a n S i e w L e n . 2 0 0 3 . T h e rcmoanld i t i o n i n n e s t s o f v a r y i n g c l u t c h s i z e o f G r e e n T u r l l e ( C h e l o n i a m y d a s )
in Redanglsland.Terengganu. Malaysia.
16. LiewChiowYen.200'1 . Detection of DNAPolymorphisms in PaintedTerrapins (Callagurborneoensis)
usingthe RAPDMethod.
17. ClareWongHuiLing.1999.Taggingandnestingstudiesof greenturtles(Chelonia mydas)PulauTalang-
talangKechil,Sarawak.
18. ChaiSau San. 1999.A comparision of hatchsuccessand sex ratiosof greenturtle(Chelonia mydas)
eggsincubatedunderin situconditions and in hatcheries in PulauTalang{alang Kechil,Sarawak.
19. OngAi Pyng.1999,Digestibility and growthstudieson the greenlurlle (Cheloniamydas).
20. PangAKNyukang.'l999,Kajiankeataspersaranganpenyuagar(Cheloniamydas)danpenyulipas
(Lepidochelys olivacea) di PulauTalang-talang Kechil,Sarawak.(Astudythe nestingbehaviour of green
turtle(Cheloniamydas) and olive ridley(Lepidochelys olivacea)turtlesin PulauTalangtalangKechil,
Sarawak).
21. A n d o r a H e m a F r e d e r i c k s J o 1h 9n 9. 8 . G h o s t c r a b ( O c y p o d e s pppr .e)d a t i o n o n g r e e n t u r l l e ( C h e l o n i a
mydas)nestand hatchlings in ChagarHutang,PulauRedang.
22. JuanilaJoseph.1997.Taggingand nestingstudiesof greenturtle(Cheloniamydas)and hawksbill
(Eretmochelys imbricata) in PulauGulisaan, Sabah,Malaysia.
23. ClintMarsilliueTiwol.1997.Sex ratioof hawksbill(Eretmochelys imbricata)and green(Cheloniamydas)
turtlehatchlings incubatedunderdifferent conditions in PulauGulisaan, Sabah.
24. ClarenceB. JoannesSigam.1997.A comparision of in-situand hatcheryincubation techniques for
hawksbill(Eretmochelys imbricata)andgreen(Cheloniamydas)turtleeggsrnPulauGulisaan,Sandakan,
Sabah.
25. WendyJenniferLivinu.1997.Effectsof temperature on sexualdifferentation of the paintedterrapon,
Callagurborneoensis.
26. WanSomarnybt.WanMd.Zain.1996.Kesanakarke ataspenetasan telurpenyuagar(Chelonia mydas)
di ChagarHutang,PulauRedang.(Effectsof plantrootson hatchability of greenturlle(Cheloniamydas)
eggsin ChagarHutang,PulauRedang).

turtles,;,;trouhle
22
Box 6: Graduateand UndergraduateResearchon Turtles (cont'd)
27. BurhanJapar.1995. Kajiankadarpemangsaanke atas anak tetasanpenyuagar (Cheloniamydas)di
ChagarHutang,PulauRedang.(A studyon thepredation of greentuile (Chelonia mydas)hatchlings in
ChagarHutang,PulauRedang).
28. Mohd.HaizambinAhma l 9d9. 5 . K a . i i a n k e a t a s s t a t u s e k o p
neomai jakdanpemajakantelurpenyudi
Terengganu. (A study on the economicstatusof turtleegg collectorsand economicsof the egg
tendering systemin Terengganu).
29. ZainalAbidinbin Hadzir.1995.Kesansampahsarapdi permukaan laut ke atasanaktetasanpenyu
agar \Cheloniamydas).(Theeffectsof floatingdebnson greenturtle(Cheloniarnydas)hatchlings).
3 0 . P u s h p a l a t haa/ p M . P a l a n i a p p a n1.9 9 4 .T h e e f f e c t so f r e t e n t i o np e r i o d ,i n c u b a t i o n
p e r i o da n d
incubation methodon turtlehatchling vigour.
31. Heng Hau Tong.1992. Efiectsof variousfeeds on the growthand survivalof soft-shelllurtle,Trionyx
slnensisWiegmann.
32. Malarveni a/p Periasamy. '1990. Pergerakan danorientasi anaktetasanpenyubelimbing (Dermochelys
coriacea) terhadapbeberapajenis parameterfizikaldan kimia.(Theefiectsof severalphysicaland
chemicalparameterson the movementand orientationof leatherback(Dermochelyscoriaceal
hatchlings).
33. Lee Loh. 1989.Kesan cahayake atas gerakbalaspenyu belimbing.(The effectsof light on the
movementof leatherback turtles),
34. K. RamnickLal Verma.1988.A studyon the digestibility of squid,jellyfishand macrozooplankton by
leatherback hatchlings.

GreenTurtleHatchling

turtles',, tro,uhle
23
Box 7

Global500 Roll of Honourof the UnitedNationsEnvironmentProoramme

@) Awardedto KUSTEMScientists
in recognitionof outstandingpracticalachievements
in the protectionand improvementof the environmentin 2001
@)
UNEP

Commercial harvestingof sea turtleeggs in Redanglsland,Malaysiahaveprovidedthe islanders with a

readysourceof incomefor manydecades.The localGovernment considers
thisto be a traditional
rightof
the islanders,and hence issuesannuallicensesfor turtleegg collection, consumption and sale.This
practicehasinevitably
ledto the declineof turtlenestingpopulations
in Redang,to the extentthattheturtles
are nowfacedwith imminentextinction.

The Sea TurtleResearchUnit(SEATRU)of the University Collegeof Scienceand Technology Malaysia

havemademanyappealsoverthe lastseveralyearsto the localgovernment to stop issuinglicensesfor
turtleegg collection,
Realizingthatthe appealscannottakeimmediate effect,SEATRUscientists startedto
raisefundsfromthe publicto helpthembuy the eggsoverfromthe ilcensedegg collectors for incubation
and protectionat ChagarHutangbeach,the majornestingbeachrn Redang. Theeggsare lefttodevelopin
their naturalnestsand hatchlingswhichemergeare allowedto maketheirway naturallyto the sea to
replenishthe decliningpopulation.

Overthe lastdecade,SEATRUhaseffectively stoppedthe passageof morethan300,000turtleeggsto the

markets,andsavedthemfromhumanconsumption. Throughtheegg protectionprogramme,overa quarter
millionhatchlings
havebeenreleasedto the oceanfrom a beachwhichhad neverseenhatchlings beino
producedbeforethe initiation programme.
of the turtleconservation

SEATRUhas adheredto the "ln-slfu"incubationconceptin whichthe eggs are left in therrnaturalneststo

developand not dug up and relocated Thispracticeensuresa mixedsex-ratio
to hatcheries. outputin the
producedas well as optimalhatchrates.SEATRUhas also madesignificant
hatchlings contributions
to
advancethe causeof conservation throughresearch. Theirsatellitetrackingstudieshave providedthe
impetusfor the development of regionalcollaborative
turtleconservation programmes in SouthEastAsia.
Longtermtaggingstudiesof greenand hawksbill turtlesare nowgenerating informationon the population
dynamicsof the turtleswhichis vitalfor assessing
and formulating
furtherconservation measures.

A conceptcalledS.T.O.P. (Sea TurtleOutreachProgramme) has also been developedby SEATRUto

enableindividual membersof the publicto becomedirectlyinvolvedin seaturtleconservationefortsthrough
a volunteerprogramme,and nest and turtleadoptionschemes.A local Englishdaily has run monthly
featureson the comprehensive turtleconservationprogrammeundertakenby SEATRUin orderto reacha
wideraudienceand creategreaterawareness amongthe Malaysian publicon the urgentneedto savethe
turtles.SEATRUalso has its own website(www.kustem.edu.my/seatru) to help reacha globalaudience
and givegreatertransparency to the program.Theworkof SEATRUhasalsobeenfeaturedin a 25 minute
documentary by NHK,theJapaneseBroadcasting Corporation,in 1999.S.T.O.P. has beenso effective
that
programmes
it is now servingas a modelfor otherturtleconservation in the country.

Throughthevariousturtlecampsconducted everyyearforthe childrenof Redang,SEATRUis reaching the

childrenof theeggcollectorsandappealingto themnotto eatturtleeggs,as in doingso,theyareefectively
killingturtles.Seedsof awarenesshavebeenplantedamongthe children, and a senseof prideand love
createdfor the uniqueenvironmentthattheysharewiththeturtles.Talksarealsogivento theeggcollectors
periodically and strongappealsmadeto themto helpsavethe turtles,a nationaltreasure.

The effortsof SEATRUhavetouchedmanyheartsin Malaysiaand demonstrated thatwhat is now being

donefor one importantnestingbeachin Redangcan be usedas a modelto initiatesimilarconservation
programmesfor other importantnestingbeachesthroughoutthe country More importantly,SEATRUhas
and prideamongthe generalpublicin thatas privatecitizens,
helpedinstilla senseof responsibility they
can and havedonesomething to helpsavean endangeredspecies.

turttresit:.trouble
24
 Box 8
Swethelurths an[ (errafins Camyaign
KUSTEMis involvedrn a projectto savethe marineturtlesof PulauRedangand riverterrapinsof Sungar
Setiu,Terengganu fromextinction.Fundsareraisedto helppurchase turtleandterrapineggsfromlocalegg
collectorsfor hatching.Marineturtlehatchlings are allowedto crawlto the oceanuponemergence while
riverterrapinhatchlingsare raisedin captivityfor one to threeyearsbeforereleaseinto the Setiu River.
We wouldliketo inviteyou to contribute to this worthwhile projectby participating
in our nesl and turtle/
terrapinadoptionschemes.Eachadoptionwillbe provided withthe following:
. An adootioncertificate
. An officialKUSTEMreceiptfor yourdonation(tax-deductible
if your lC no. is provided)
. Informatron aboutyournestor turtle(willbe sentlater)
. An exclusivegift

MarineTurtleand NestAdoption Scheme

Allnestspurchased
areincubatedin theirnaturalsitesin ChagarHutang,PulauRedang.Onenestadoption
costsRM200whileone turtleadootioncostsRM100.
TerrapinAdoption Scheme
You havea choiceof adoptinga terrapinto be raisedfor one / two / threeyears
beforerelease.Adoptionratesare as follows:
. Oneterrapinto be raisedto one year : RM150
. One terrapinto be raisedto two years : RM250
. Oneterrapinto be raisedto threeyears : RM350

Acknowledgements

I am indebtedto the Fisheries

Department of Malaysia,SabahParksAuthority, the Wildlife
Departmentof Sabah,the SarawakForestryCorporationand Departmentof Wildlifeand
NationalParksMalaysiafor use of statisticscollectedby the respectiveagencies.
I wouldalso like to expressmy gratitudeto the followingpersonswho have contributedto
the preparationof this publication:
. HelenCorrigan,Citestradedata programmeofficerof the UNEP-WorldConservation
MonitoringCentrein Cambridgerespondedinstantlyupon my requestfor CITESdata,
madethoughmy friendHilaryChiew.
. Graphswere producedwith the help of my son, JeremyLiew Jee Weng, and my
graduatestudent,Soh Chong Leng,who also helpedinsertthe figures,tablesand
boxesin the correctplaces.
. The photographused in the backcoverwas taken by my daughter,Liew Shao-Yi.
. Chen Pelf Nyok,anotherof my graduatestudents,photographed the watermarkin the
back cover,helpedsort out the referencesand checkedmy finaldraft.
. My friend,EMS,readmy draftand mademanyusefulsuggestions.

The hawksbillon the cover is creditedto U. Keuper-Bennett and P. Bennettwhile that of

the olive ridley is extractedfrom a poster producedby the QueenslandDepartmentof
Environmental Heritage
Prof.Dato'Dr. MohamedMahyuddinMohdDahan,the Rectorof KUSTEMis acknowledged
over the years.
for supportingturtleresearchand conservation
Finally,to all peoplewho havecomeintomy lifeandofferedhelp,supportand encouragement,
a big thankfrom the bottomof my heart.

turtles.;;trouble
25
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