(MY) green turtle

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Turtle sent to research centre-New Straits Times*20 Sep 2006*

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*SUNGAI PETANI: The Green turtle found stranded on the shores of Kota Kuala

Muda two days ago, just refuses to leave the area.

*

A State Fisheries Department team and villagers spent hours yesterday

pushing the reptile into the sea only to find it swimming back to shore.

 

At 1pm, the turtle was sent to the nearby Pulau Sayak national prawn fry

product and research centre as it appeared weak following the 10-hour

struggle. On the way to the research centre, the turtle expelled two large

clumps of plastic bags — each the size of a 500ml mineral water bottle;

probably the reason for its weak condition.

 

At the centre, it was placed in a 40-tonne tank where it was fed " temenong "

fish following advice from the department's turtle experts. A team of

researchers from Penang's Batu Maung fisheries research institute is

expected to check on its condition today.

 

A department official said the turtle may not want to leave because it was

weak or that it was still trying to lay eggs. " It could have been heading to

a nearby island but ended up in Kota Kuala Muda, " he said, adding that the

turtle did not have an identification tag. The official said the turtle

apparently mistook the plastic bags for jellyfish, which it feeds on.

 

He said it was also regrettable that no one informed the department of the

landing.

 

" We came to know about it through the newspapers. In future, we hope the

public will notify us as soon as possible of any turtle landings. "

 

Although Kedah has several turtle nesting sites, including Pulau Sayak and

Pulau Payar, these places are yet to be declared turtle sanctuaries.