(MY) river terrapins

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Cross-country: River terrapins return to Dungun - New Straits Times

11 Dec 2006

Sean Augustin

 

 

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KUALA TERENGGANU: River terrapins here, especially in Dungun, have

come crawling back.

 

And the state deserves a pat on the back for efforts in reviving the

population of the terrapins.

This has been achieved despite the project, carried out by the

Terengganu Wildlife Protection and Natural Park Department

(Perhilitan) and Kolej Universiti Sains Teknologi Malaysia (Kustem),

being still in its infant stage.

Kustem Turtle Research and Rehabilitation project leader (Institute of

Oceanography) Professor Chan Eng Heng said wild river terrapins were

known to nest in countries like Bangladesh, Cambodia, India,

Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

A study done by representatives at a regional workshop held last year

in Kustem, showed that in recent years no nesting had been registered

in Bangladesh, Indonesia and Vietnam.

The study also revealed that Cambodia registered four nestings this

year, three in 2005 and eight in 2004. Myanmar and Thailand recorded

one and three nestings respectively in 2005.

The project, which began in January, registered 44 nestings in Pasir

Kumpal and Pasir Tok Chu, located along the Dungun river bank.

From the nests, Kustem and Perhilitan recovered 564 eggs and achieved

a 74 per cent average in hatching them.

" The figure is small and I was hoping we could get a 100 nests. But it

is a significant figure as it is at a level where we can help restore

the population to its glory days, " Chan told the New Straits Times.

Chan said that two or three decades ago, a few hundred nests would be

seen here, but the number has dwindled with the destruction of the

nesting ground due to sand mining.

Other factors that have led to the declining numbers include fishing

activities and poaching of terrapins.

Chan said the project proved that the population of river terrapins

could be increased with proper monitoring and management.

" Now that the groundwork has been laid, I hope that Perhilitan will

come up with a similar strategy for terrapin nesting grounds in other

parts of Peninsular Malaysia, " she said.