46 baby hawksbill turtles rescued at PD, thanks to alert public

 

Fisheries officials also found 48 eggs which were brought to the hatchery centre at Glory Beach Resort, Port Dickson, to be incubated. (Negeri Sembilan fisheries department pic)

PORT DICKSON: A total of 46 baby hawksbill turtles were rescued by members of the public after being found wandering along the coastal area of Batu 3, Jalan Pantai Bagan Pinang, here yesterday.

Negeri Sembilan fisheries department director Halimi Abu Hanip said the hatchlings were found by a family who happened to be in the area at 11am.

“Their swift action in rescuing the baby turtles and releasing them immediately into the sea is a commendable effort.

“It is the third such incident reported in Port Dickson this year, with the second on Sept 11.

“It is normal for baby turtles to crawl out of their nest to go to the sea. Turtles lay their eggs throughout the year but most frequently from March to September,” he told Bernama.

Following the incident, Halimi said the department together with a registered turtle egg collector in Port Dickson, Hishamudin Abd Manap, inspected nesting sites at the location and found two dead baby turtles and 48 eggs.

He said all the eggs were then brought to the hatchery centre at Glory Beach Resort here to be incubated.

Like other sea turtles, reports say that hawksbills are threatened by the loss of nesting and feeding habitats, excessive egg collection, fishery-related mortality, pollution, and coastal development. However, they are most threatened by wildlife trade.

Meanwhile, Halimi said the department would install signboards in the coastal area to remind the public to immediately report any turtle findings to the relevant authorities for further action.

“The public can also contact us through our Facebook page and I would like to remind them against catching the turtles because it is an offence under the Negeri Sembilan’s Fisheries (Turtles and Turtles Eggs) Rules 1976,” he said. - FMT