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The sea turtles, especially the leatherbacks , are undoubtedly one of nature's most amazing creatures.
They roam the warm seas of the world throughout their life and come ashore only to lay eggs. Malaysia
with its long sandy shorelines has been destined as one of their breeding grounds. Unfortunately, the
number of leatherback turtles landing on the beaches has been declining over the years. According to
the WWF estimates, about 2000 leatherbacks arrived on Malaysian beaches in 1970. In 1989, only
between 30 and 60 leatherbacks were found. The drastic drop within such a short span is certainly a great
cause for concern. Where have they gone to ? Are they avoiding the beaches of Malaysia ? Whatever it is,
if no concerted effort is taken to check the decline now they may become an extinct species soon.
The belief that the declining landings of turtles in Malaysia is the result of increasing landings in other
parts of the world is a fallacy. This is because the scenario is the same in other countries known to have been
visited by the turtles. What has caused the species to dwindle at such a rapid rate? There are many reasons
but an obvious one is none other than man's greed. As we know, turtles are killed for their meat, In the
days before refrigeration, turtles had been a source of fresh food for the sailing ships. Today, turtle soup is a favorite dish among the Asians. Their shells have become coveted items fir decorations and jewelry. Their
eggs which are meant to be hatched into young turtles, are instead harvested and eaten. When deep sea fishing
nets inadvertently trap the turtles, fishermen often kill the turtles instead of cutting their nets to release them.
Pollution in the sea has also reduced the number of turtles. Many are choked to death by the plastic bags that they
mistake for jelly fish. It appears that the turtles are no longer safe in the sea where they spend most of their lives.
Neither are they safe when the females come ashore to lay eggs. In fact this is the time when they
are particularly vulnerable as their movements are slow on land. The nesting places for these turtles have
also been greatly reduced. As more and more beaches are taken over for tourism with the construction of
hotels, chalets and condominiums, the breeding grounds are reduced in the process. The intrusion of tourists
into these places make it difficult for the turtles to lay their eggs. Unfortunately these ideal places are few
to come by now. Too much development has taken place even along the coastline in most countries.
Perhaps all is not lost yet. Sincere efforts are being taken to check the decline. In Malaysia, it is
heartening to note that concrete steps have been taken to protect the turtles that come ashore to lay
eggs. The indiscriminate collection of turtle eggs on the beaches is no more allowed. Turtle sanctuaries
have been set up in Rantau Abang in Terengganu. The eggs collected by designated officials are sent to
hatcheries in the sanctuaries. In this way, the loss of eggs and the rate of mortality among the baby turtles
are reduced. In other words, more baby turtles are now able to return to sea and grow into adulthood.
In an effort to discourage the public from eating turtle eggs. a Turtle Enactment Act has been
introduced to prohibit the sale of leatherback eggs. The WWF has also launched the 'Save the Turtle
Campaign' to create an awareness among the public to help save the endangered species. In this way, the
consumption of turtle eggs and turtle meat will be discouraged. Let us hope that it is not too late to save
these fascinating creatures from becoming extinct.
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