The slight drizzle before the release of 40 river terrapins did not dampen the spirits of teachers and school children who were all-agog to witness the event at Sekolah Kebangsaan Penarik.

Pupils of SK Mangkok in Setiu, Terengganu, turned up in large numbers at the school for a good cause on National Day.

National Day meant liberation for 150 river terrapins that were released into Sungai Setiu here yesterday.

An “Independence Day” for river terrapins? Strange as it sounds, Aug 31 has been slated for this purpose by Kolej Universiti Sains Malaysia (Kustem) in its bid to save river terrapins from extinction and to raise funds for its terrapin research in Sungai Setiu.