KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Christina Liew has ordered an immediate investigation into a photo of what appears to be a child sitting on top of a turtle.
The picture, which went viral on social media, is believed to have been taken during a boat ride at one of the islands off Sabah’s east coast district of Semporna.
Liew said she had directed state wildlife director Augustine Tuuga to look into how the travel agency and boat operator could have allowed the child to sit on the turtle.
She said this entailed a host of offences, from catching the turtle and bringing it onto the boat to letting the child sit on it.
“We welcome tourists to visit our state, but they have to respect our laws,” the tourism, culture and environment minister said.
“Turtles are a protected species in Sabah, and it is wrong for any individual to put the animal in danger.”
Acknowledging that this could have been an oversight on the part of the tour and boat operator, Liew nonetheless said industry players should be aware of the offence.
Alexander Yee, the president of NGO Friends of Sea Turtles Education and Research, urged the tour agent or dive master involved to own up and come clean on the matter.
“It seems that more awareness is needed to prevent such incidents from reoccurring,” he added. - FMT
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