FACING EXTINCTION
The fate of Malaysia's endangered
species of sea turtles rests
in your hands
The fate of Malaysia's endangered
species of sea turtles rests
in your hands
“According to World Wide Fund (WWF), Malaysia hosts four out of the seven species of marine turtles found in the world,
which are the green, hawksbill, olive ridley and leatherback turtles...The hawksbill and leatherback are classified as
critically endangered while the green and olive ridley are classified as endangered. In 2020, the leatherback turtle
population in Malaysia has declined by more than 99 percent since the 1960s, while olive ridley turtles have
declined by more than 95 percent.”
- Liyana Hasnan, The ASEAN Post
The sale and consumption of turtle egg is only illegal in Sabah, Sarawak, and Terengganu.The lack of a nationwide wide continues to thereaten sea turtles as there are no law to enforce on poachers.
Many reported deaths of sea turtles are caused by consumption of floating plastic bags or entanglements from discarded fishing equipments.
Development of lands, particualrly coastal reclaimation, has invaded the nesting sites of sea turtles and prevented them from returning to the same ground to nest.
Source of information: “Turtles crying foul in Malaysia” by Liyana Hasnan from The ASEAN Post
Many Non-govermental organisation in Malysia such as WWF, Juara
Tutle Project and Lang Tengah Turtle Watch have been making
an effort in conserving the lives of sea turtles. But additional
help is always needed.