Setiu is ground zero for two terrapin species
Date: 3 February 2009
By: Sean Augustin
Source: The New Straits Times
KUALA TERENGGANU: Malaysia is the last stronghold in the world when it comes to the conservation of painted and river terrapins.
The country, in particular Terengganu, has a significant population of terrapins compared with other countries in Southeast Asia, Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) chairman Rick Hudson said yesterday.
This is good news because the two species are on the critically endangered list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
TSA is a non-governmental organisation which is committed to zero turtle extinction. It was formed in 2001 and is based in the United States.
The number of river terrapins (Batagur affinis) and painted terrapin (Batagur borneoensis) in the world dwindled due to poaching and over consumption of their eggs.
“Malaysia is where we have to make a stand for these two species. Setiu is ground zero for such efforts. It is the best opportunity we have to conserve a viable wild species as there is a critical mass here. Conservation work is crucial for the survival of the terrapins,” he said, adding that Setiu had good prospects for the population recovery of the terrapins.
TSA will work closely with Universiti Malaysia Terengganu’s Turtle Research and Rehabilitation group.
The conservation efforts at the Setiu river by the group’s leader, Prof Chan Eng Heng, caught the organisation’s eye.
Hudson said TSA would help with the implementation of such projects, including the expansion of recovery programmes in other sites in Malaysia.
“There are a lot of conservation efforts here, but the science of it is lacking. That is why we are interested in widening Prof Chan’s project. Besides saving terrapins, we hope to usher in the next generation of turtle biologists.”
Hudson also said there was good potential in Malaysia for the conservation of the Siamese narrow-headed soft shell turtle (Chitra chitra) and the Malaysian giant river turtle (Orlitia borneensis).
Chan, a lecturer in UMT’s Institute of Oceanography, was happy to learn that her efforts in Setiu had been recognised by the organisation.
“I just hope the Federal government and state governments realise we have these species in our country. And, if outsiders are interested in helping us to prevent the terrapins from becoming extinct, we should pay more attention,” she said.