RESEARCH

“Those who have the privilege to know have the duty to act.”

– Albert Einstein

CONSERVATION

“In the end, we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand and we will understand only what we are taught.”
-Baba Dioum

KEMAMAN TERRAPIN CONSERVATION PROJECT

EDUCATION

“One way or another, the choice will be made by our generation, but it will affect life on earth for all generations to come.”
– Lester Brown

TURTLE CAMPS

OUTREACH

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
– Margaret Mead

MORE OUTREACH PROGRAMMES

TURTLE CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF MALAYSIA

Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (TCS) was founded out of necessity in 2011 because co-founders Drs. Chan Eng Heng and Chen Pelf Nyok realised that there wasn’t an organisation or agency in charge of the tortoises and freshwater turtles in the country, despite being home to 18 species of native species.

TCS is the first non-governmental and non-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation of freshwater turtles in Malaysia. The aim of the Society is to bring about the recovery of depleted wild populations of turtles, with particular reference to freshwater turtles, in Malaysia through partnerships with like-minded organisations, individuals and local communities as well as through its own programmes.

OUR VISION

We strive to create the conditions for turtles to thrive under the care and protection of informed local communities, an educated and motivated public, dedicated NGOs and a concerned government.

ADVISORS

Tan Sri Dr. Salleh

Dr. Chan Eng Heng

Mohamed Shah Redza

COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2020 – 2022

Dr. Chen Pelf Nyok

President

Lim Puay Aun

Vice President

Nur Aliah Amira

Secretary

Nur Aleeya Illyana

Assistant Secretary

Dr. Dahlia Sidique

Treasurer

Dr. Pakeeyaraj Nagalingam

Committee Member

Emily Wong

Committee Member

Wan Ahmad Azimi

Committee Member

Lim Wei Li

Committee Member

Erica Chang

Internal Auditor

Teng Phei Yin

Internal Auditor

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dr. Chen Pelf Nyok

Pelf is the co-founder and Executive Director of TCS. She is awarded the first Ph.D. in the field of non-marine turtles in Malaysia. Her research interests are the distribution, biology and ecology of freshwater turtles. She leads the community-based terrapin conservation project in Kg. Pasir Gajah, Kemaman, and was very recently awarded the Commonwealth Points of Light from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for her turtle conservation efforts. She is a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (TFTSG).

EDUCATION COORDINATOR

Nur Aliah Amira bt. Affandi

Nur Aliah Amira graduated from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) in 2018. A passionate educator, Aliah participated in the STEM movement (under English module) while pursuing her Bachelor’s degree, where she taught Science in English to students in rural schools in Terengganu. She is now the Education Coordinator with TCS. She plans and executes numerous Environmental Education programmes as well as virtual classes to spread awareness on freshwater turtles and environmental issues.

TERRAPIN GUARDIANS

Our Terrapin Guardians are the backbone of the community-based terrapin conservation project in Kg.Pasir Gajah, Kemaman, Terengganu. All of them used to collect and consume river terrapin eggs but they are now our trusted Terrapin Guardians. They work tirelessly during the terrapin nesting season to collect as many eggs as possible for incubation. The project also hires Wazel to raise the terrapin hatchlings in our TCS River Terrapin Conservation Centre.