Guest guest Posted March 30, 2007 Report Share Posted March 30, 2007 Plea to save turtles from poachers-New Straits Times 30 Mar 2007 KUALA LUMPUR: Help us save the turtles. This plea comes not from a conservation group but the marine police. Marine police chief SAC II Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman said illegal fishing of turtles had to be curbed before the gentle creatures completely disappear from Malaysian waters. The department for the first time caught three boats loaded with 339 turtles in Sabah this week, of which 290 were killed and preserved, four were found dead, 19 carcasses and 26 live ones. Jalaluddin hoped other maritime agencies would also step up patrols and intelligence gathering to nab those who prey on the reptiles. " We are sad that most of them died and that we could not act fast enough to save them. " He said enforcement agencies, including the navy, should stop and check foreign vessels that are in Malaysian territorial waters to ensure they do not carry any illegal cargo especially wildlife. He said the 34 men from Hainan, China, arrested during the recent turtle seizure were suspected of spending two weeks in Malaysian waters to fish for turtles. " They come not to fish, but to illegally catch turtles to be sold in China. It is their targeted catch, " he said. The turtles, mostly Leatherback, Green, Olive Ridley and Hawksbill, are in huge demand in restaurants serving exotic wildlife. Their shells also fetch a high price as decorative items. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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