AWARENESS days are very useful in educating people about important issues confronting society.
Every year on May 23, the world celebrates World Turtle Day and it's a day when we can all focus on the plight of global turtle populations.
Awareness days also help focus attention on everyone's role in protecting such habitats with one very obvious contribution we can all make is to reduce plastic consumption and dispose of it appropriately as plastic is a major killer of turtles.
While turtle egg sales are banned in Malaysia, the eggs are still taken from some nests and illegally sold in some coastal wet markets.
With so many beaches and islands, it comes as no surprise that Malaysia is an important marine turtle habitat and there are several locations to visit to learn more, see turtles and even get involved in some valuable volunteer programmes.
Check out these five fabulous turtle sites in Malaysia.
PANTAI CHERATING, PAHANG
Leatherback, Olive-Ridley, Green and Hawksbill Turtles are known to visit the soft sands adjoining Club Med Resort, north of Cherating in Pahang. This Cherating Turtle Project is operated by the Department of Fisheries and is open daily except for Monday from 9.30am to 4.30pm and there is an entrance fee. The centre has a static display and some young turtles but more interaction with the turtles is possible for guests staying at the adjoining Club Med property.
PULAU TIOMAN, PAHANG
Juara Turtle Project on Tioman's east coast is a turtle conservation non-governmental organisation that works closely with the Department of Fisheries and Marine Parks to protect turtles and their eggs and marine habitat. Volunteers can assist with patrols, clean-ups and educational activities. A visitors' centre provides information on sea turtles and the programme. Visitors can also watch the release of recently-hatched baby turtles. Turtles also visit Tioman's main beaches like Nipah and Paya as well as Tulai Island. Visitors can travel to Juara year-round but the November to February monsoon is best avoided.
PULAU PERHENTIAN, TERENGGANU
The Perhentian Turtle Project operates on both islands of the Perhentians (Besar and Kecil) as an initiative of Fuze Ecoteer Outdoors Activities. Activities began in 2015 and the team works with authorities from marine parks and fisheries to complement their activities in protecting turtles in the waters around the islands. Interested visitors can volunteer to participate in kayak surveys, awareness programmes and beach patrols to monitor turtle activities and protect turtle habitats. They operate an adopt-a-turtle programme and fund-raising activities too.
TALANG SATANG NATIONAL PARK, SARAWAK
Life on Satang Besar Island moves at such a slow pace that it is measured by the speed of turtles. Talang Satang National Park is home to endangered Green and Hawksbill Turtles and limited and basic accommodation enables just a handful of ecotourists to visit at any one time. Visitors can help the rangers manage the conservation programme including a hatchery where the eggs incubate for 50 days, safely protected from predators. Turtles lay their eggs in the soft sands with the egg-laying process taking several hours and each turtle lays about 100 eggs.
TURTLE ISLAND PARK, SABAH
Located one hour off Sandakan in northeast Sabah, this marine park comprises three islands that are turtle protection reserves. While Green and Hawksbill Turtles lay eggs on all the islands, Selingan is the focus for ecotourism with basic park accommodation, a hatchery, a cafeteria and an information centre. Just one operator conducts 24-hour tours in conjunction with Sabah Parks leaving in the morning and returning the next with an overnight stay on the island.
Discover Pulau Perhentian at affordable rates with Agoda Promo Code.