More on our activities

Since our absence from our base from 10 February, we have procurred two more clutches of eggs for incubation. Malek and Ropi, our two very dependable village friends and assistants have helped us make the purchase and incubate them.

In the days before our departure to celebrate the lunar new year with family in our respective hometowns, there have been notable activities to write about.

Shao video recording

Firstly, 24 terrapins caught by fishermen, mostly in driftnets were processed on the 10th. My daughter Shao Yi who was home for a visit was roped in to help. One fisherman by the name of Bidin caught a large number of male painted terrapins in the Chaluk River and the downside was that four of them had hooks in them.  I removed  hooks from three terrapins, but one hook was so deeply seated that all we could do was just cut off the fishing line.  As usual, we had help from the fishermen, two of whom have now become”regulars.”  There is an urgent need to address this seemingly high incidence of terrapins getting hooked on fishing lines.  Circular hooks have been designed to reduce the incidence of hooking marine turtles.  We must look into the possibility of testing these hooks in the Setiu River.

Hooked terrapin caught in a drift net

Bent over to help a terrapin

This one was easily removed

Sharing a delightful moment with Pelf

Processing a terrapin with Rosli

Kids releasing terrapins and developing a bond with them

Cultivating a love for terrapins

I think our physical presence in the village has helped us engage more of the villagers in the project. The kids are such eager participants and I hope they will grow up loving terrapins.