MAIN CAMPUS, 5TH MAY - Persatuan Pemuliharaan dan Kajian Marin Malaysia (PULIHARA) calls for instant awareness of the lives of endangered sea turtles in an online talk called “Save The Turtles” held by members of Angkatan Mahasiswa/I Perlis (AMLIS) of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) through combined efforts with the Entrepreneur Club (ENEUR USM). 

​

According to the project director of the program, Nur Aishah Azhar, the program which took place on April 28th, Sunday from 10 am to 12 pm was held as a way to expose students of USM, regardless of their courses and majors, to the threatening and endangering lives of sea turtles. 

​

“Turtles, as we are aware now, are endangered species. I believe it is important that we address the threats that these turtles are facing as well as the steps we could take to curb the problem,” said Nur Aishah. 

​

“It is also an opportunity for students to learn about the different species of turtles, especially for those interested in becoming a marine biologist or wish to work with animal conservation and preservation organizations that are continuously gathering efforts to save endangered animals,” added Nur Aishah. 

​

Nur Aishah stated that they had invited the chief executive manager from Persatuan Pemuliharaan dan Kajian Marin Malaysia (PULIHARA) that operated since 2013 since she is knowledgeable about the various species of turtles.  

 

Chief executive manager of PULIHARA, Rahayu Zulkifli stated that different species of turtles face different kinds of threats from humans. 

​

“Hawksbill are often killed for their shells as they are made for frames of the glasses, earrings, rings and many more, while Green Turtles are often a delicacy and its fat, is one of the main ingredients in turtle soup. Even the Olive Ridley turtles used to lay lots of eggs in Keracut Beach, Penang but its population has decreased so they are almost endangered,” said Rahayu.  

​

Rahayu added that back in the 1950s, the Leatherback turtles had the saddest history of endangerment as they used to lay more than 10,000 eggs along a 10-kilometre-long beach which attracted tourists and locals and egg-collecting activity became famous as their eggs are also delicacy. 

​

“By the 1980s, there were roughly 800 eggs on the beach and in 2017, there were none spotted. None hatched. They have gone extinct due to uncontrolled tourism,” said Rahayu.

​

“Temperatures of the climate determine the gender of the turtles. Turtles that hatch at a temperature of 29 Degrees Celcius and above would usually be female. The worst part is that though the population of female turtles is high and they still can lay eggs, there is no male to fertilize those eggs. Without fertilization, it is a major health issue for the females,” said Rahayu.

​

Rahayu stated that in the tourism industry, after the eggs have been hatched, the hatchlings are stored almost immediately in containers or big pails for days so that tourists can have a look. 

​

“I do not support this. Right after the eggs are hatched, the babies are born with a sort of energy called a “swimming frenzy” whereby they need to go out to sea and swim far from the shore. If they are kept in the containers for too long, they will lose so much energy once they are released to the sea. At the same time, there is a high possibility that they could get eaten by predators nearby like monitor lizards,” said Rahayu. 

​

Rahayu stated that aside from the tourism industry where egg poaching is a delicacy, pollution is one of the many reasons turtles are endangered.  

​