TCC @ Mangkok

TCC @ Mangkok

We are pleased to announce that we have acquired a small wooden building in Kampung Mangkok, Setiu to use as our base near the river terrapin nesting site in the Setiu River.

It is a humble place, 6 x 11 m and consists of two sections separated by a wall.  It used to be the Balai Raya (village community hall), then kindergarten and has been left vacant since the latter moved into its new premises.  As you can imagine, we had lots of cleaning to do, especially in scrubbing the grime off the wooden walls.  Thanks to 5 undergraduate volunteers from UMT, and the three C’s (Pelf, Fong and Chan), the place is now habitable.  Inner front walls have been painted, lights fixed, toilet walls repainted, sinks installed, floor lined with new linoleum and window latches fixed.  Our friend Nafizi has given us sufficient wood from his yard to fix one of the fences.  We are now putting up exhibits in the front section.

The villagers have been wonderful and seem to have embraced us. We are never short of visitors and help, especially from the young men around. The rest of the story will be told in pictures.

Turtles in trouble

Turtles in trouble

Date: 26 January 2010
By: Hilary Chiew
Source: The Star

FOR turtle conservationist Dr Chan Eng Heng, the Integrated Shrimp Aquaculture Park (i-SHARP) is bad news for the survival of two critically endangered terrapins.

In 2004, she pioneered research and conservation work on the river terrapin (Batagur affinis) and painted terrapin (Batagur borneoensis) populations in Sungai Setiu.

Upon her retirement from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu early [last] year, the marine reptile scientist set up the Turtle Conservation Centre (TCC) to continue efforts to augment the low nesting by restocking the population.

This is done by purchasing terrapin eggs from villagers, incubating them and releasing the hatchlings into the river. Thanks to Chan’s project, which has gained international recognition and financial support, the terrapin population has a chance to recover after decades of egg exploitation by the locals.

So far, 1,777 eggs have been purchased for incubation, representing half of the total number of eggs deposited mostly in Tebing Pasir Penarik, the major nesting bank for the river terrapin.

From these eggs, 1,128 hatchlings (overall hatch rate of 63.5%) have been produced and 500 released into Sungai Setiu. The hatchlings are partly raised in captivity before being released.

“Therefore, apart from the reproductively active adult population, the Setiu river network has a healthy population of young and sub-adult river terrapins ranging from three to 10 years of age. This developing population will continue to increase under the TCC’s efforts and will become the future generations of reproductively active river terrapins in Setiu,” explains Chan.

TCC has found that the terrapins typically occur in water with relatively low salinity of one to three parts per thousands. Hence, she has raised the alarm on the i-SHARP project that intends to discharge used sea water into Sungai Caluk, a tributary of Sungai Setiu.

“Studies (elsewhere) have found river terrapins to progressively lose weight as salinity increases. Their physiological conditions are impaired and they eventually stop feeding. Changes in the salinity regime of the Setiu river system will have dire effects on freshwater fish and prawns.”

“The health of the river and its natural hydrological conditions must be maintained in pristine condition for it to continue supporting critically endangered wildlife, the livelihoods of fisherfolk and local inhabitants.”

She also criticises the Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment for writing off many impacts as “non-issues”.

BAB has proposed the creation of Friends of Sungai Caluk (FSC) to lead conservation activities in a 2ha conservation site to preserve Sungai Caluk and its wildlife, as well as manage riparian vegetation along the river.

“We are presently in talks with Universiti Malaysia Terengganu to conduct joint research as well as conservation activities under FSC,” it says.

The terrapins have been released

The terrapins have been released

Before my contract with the university ended in December 2009, Prof. Chan and I decided to release all the river and painted terrapins that we have been taking care of in the terrapin hatchery on campus. It was a very difficult decision to make because our initial intention was to raise the terrapins up to 3 years old before release, but we figured it was the best we could do for the terrapins, given the circumstances. Hence we made arrangements to gradually release them back into Setiu River, from where the river terrapin eggs were purchased.

On 19th December 2009, Prof. Chan, Fong and I released 154 river terrapins hatched in 2007 in Beris Tok Ku, where we carry out our routine samplings every fortnight. Our three fishermen friends who have been assisting us in the project since 2009 — Ropi, Malek and Shukeri — helped us drill a hole on each terrapin before release. These holes serve as a visual sign that these terrapins have been microchipped, weighed and measured by us.

On 21st December 2009, again Prof. Chan, Fong and myself released 106 river terrapins hatched in 2008 in Tebing Pasir Penarik, the major terrapin nesting bank in the Setiu River.

On 25th December 2009 (yes, Christmas Day), a group of Marine Biology student volunteers and I released 28 river terrapins hatched in 2005 and 2006 and 43 painted terrapins in Tebing Pasir Penarik. I gave the students a briefing about the terrapin research and conservation work that we have been carrying out in the Setiu River since 2004 at the release site. It was very well their best Christmas Day, having had the opportunity to participate in a “release of life” ceremony, albeit a simple one :)

On 31st December 2009, Prof. Chan and a group of visitors from Redang Pelangi Resort released 38 river terrapins hatched in 2006, also in Tebing Pasir Penarik.

Below are some pictures taken during the previous releases.

Photo credits: Vicki Chew

Acknowledgements:

  • We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Mr. Alex Lee of Ping Anchorage for offering his lorry to help us transport the terrapins to the release site on Christmas Day. Thank you also to Luq and Pok for your assistance.
  • We would also like to thank Ropi, Malek and Shukeri for being ever so helpful whenever help is needed.