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UMT uses its Turtle Lab to campaign for turtle conservation

UMT uses its Turtle Lab to campaign for turtle conservation

Wednesday, 03/11/2021

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A mini-sized turtle lab set up at the lobby of The Taras Beach & Spa Resort at Pulau Redang is no ordinary lab.

The lab is a result of a close collaboration between Sea Turtle Research Unit (SEATRU) of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) and Berjaya Corporation Berhad. UMT has undertaken efforts on turtle conservation since the early 1990s.

The turtles unfortunately are facing extinction due to a small segment of the public treating the species as exotic meals and some businesses making accessories out of them.

In addition, high demand for turtle eggs at the black market is one of the main reasons the rate of turtle hatching has decreased.

UMT has taken various initiatives through its SEATRU to ensure that the species will not be extinct in the future.

The existence of the Turtle Lab at Pulau Redang will not only encourage turtle conservation efforts among the local communities, it will also serve as a centre that disseminates to local and international visitors information relating to the importance of turtle conservation for the stability of marine ecosystem.

The turtle conservation effort carried out by SEATRU has received firm support from the owner of the resort, Tan Sri Dato Vincent Tan.

SEATRU has taken an initiative to purchase turtle eggs from sold by local residents in an attempt to prevent the eggs from being served as a meal. Instead, the eggs will be incubated to maintain turtle population. The state government has noticed the effort and decided to gazette the beach as a turtle sanctuary, with the Chagar Hutang Turtle Sanctuary, in 2005. The place is also known as Turtle Nature Research Station.

The UMT lab at Pulau Redang is a necessity to facilitate research activities as the Chagar Hutang Turtle Research Station lacks facilities and electricity supply for more effective and efficient research efforts.

In terms of research, the Turtle Lab is a medium for SEATRU researchers to conduct a variety of studies. The facilities available at the lab has attracted researchers from other places to engage in research collaborations.

In the three years the Turtle Lab has existed, more than 5,700 individuals from 36 countries have visited the lab.

Seeing the positive responses from the public towards turtle conservation efforts, SEATRU decided to seize the opportunity by creating its own product known as BatiKita, which is Terengganu batik fabric with turtle motif. The product received support from Wakaf Tapai Community Rehabilitation Centre and local batik entrepreneurs.

 

 

 

The lab has been successful in connecting the public to the world of turtles, as seen in the continuous participation by tourists in the turtle volunteer programme that is held annually.

Besides tourists, the local community comprising residents of Kampung Pulau Redang also takes the time to visit the Turtle Lab. The annual Turtle Camp organized by SEATRU in collaboration with Sekolah Kebangsaan Pulau Redang (SKPR) provides an opportunity for students to experience being at the Turtle Lab to see the scientists conducting research on the species.

 

Published by:
Corporate Communication Office
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu
Tel: 09-668418/4261