A 51-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly interfering with a turtle while it was laying eggs at the Turtle Conservation and Information Centre in Cherating, Pahang.
Photo via X (@mynewshub)
According to Acting Kuantan District Police Chief, Superintendent Mohd Adli Mat Daud, the suspect was detained in the Cherating area. Authorities are now working to locate two other individuals believed to have been involved in the incident.
The man was also found to have tested positive for drugs.
The incident is said to have taken place at around 7 am and was caught on camera by several tourists. The video footage shows three men lifting a turtle and placing it into a pre-dug hole in the sand. Early investigations suggest that the men may have been attempting to speed up the turtle’s nesting process to harvest the eggs, which are often illegally sold.
Superintendent Mohd Adli said the turtle was released back into the sea after visitors intervened and scolded the men for their actions.
The case is now under investigation by the Malaysian Fisheries Department under Section 27 of the Fisheries Act 1985, which prohibits disturbing, capturing, or collecting turtles without authorisation. Offenders may be fined up to RM5,000. The case is also being examined under the Pahang State Wildlife Conservation Enactment, which makes it illegal to possess turtle eggs without a proper permit.
There are strong reasons behind these laws. Sea turtles are endangered species and play a crucial role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems. For example, they help control jellyfish populations and contribute to the health of seagrass beds and coral reefs. Disturbing them during nesting, or taking their eggs, severely affects their chances of survival.
Turtle eggs are particularly vulnerable. Only a small percentage of hatchlings make it to adulthood, so every egg counts when it comes to protecting future turtle populations. Interfering with their nesting process not only causes stress to the animal but can also result in failed or incomplete nesting, which reduces the number of viable hatchlings.
The public has been urged to refrain from disturbing marine life and to report any suspicious or harmful behaviour to the relevant authorities. Everyone plays a part in helping to ensure that future generations can still witness these majestic creatures in the wild.
