Turtle team: Not all river terrapins snagged in nets died

Date: 12 June 2008
Source: The Star

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Turtle Research Rehabilitation Group of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (TRRG) has set free river terrapins caught in fishermen’s nets on numerous occasions. Project leader Professor Chan Eng Heng said that not all of the endangered reptiles were found dead as reported on June 8, as some of the trapped animals were rescued and released.

Prof Chan, on the group’s website, also reported that four terrapins, aged between three and four years, have been tracked using ultrasonic tags.

The first terrapin, released on March 29, was found to have moved two kilometres upstream in the Setiu River after its release, while three more were released on May 2.

Prof Chan also provided updates on TRRG’s activities and conservation projects on the website at [removed].

The group has been raising river terrapin hatchlings in captivity and releasing them into the Setiu River once they reached a certain age and were able to fend for themselves.

It has released 240 hatchlings since the conservation programme started in 2004.