We are losing our precious turtles because of human activities…
Photo via BERNAMA
Two green sea turtles or penyu agar, were found dead on Terengganu beaches, one at Pantai Batu Burok and the other at Pantai Seberang Takir in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu.
According to BERNAMA, the Terengganu Fisheries Department director, Ruzaidi Mamat said the two green sea turtles, estimated to be about 20 years old, were about 1.3 meters long and 0.65 meters wide.
“The physical characteristics of the two carcasses found are more or less the same and weigh about 40 to 50kgs and both are believed to be male turtles,” he said.
The two carcasses had each been buried in the area near where they were found. The two turtles were believed to have died due to drowning after being stuck in trawling nets.
The discovery of the two dead turtles brought to five the number of deaths of the green turtle species this month, with other carcasses found at Pantai Petunjuk near Kijal in Kemaman on January 3rd and at Chendering Port on January 12th!
Five dead turtles in just two weeks is a lot…
The department also received the case of a baby green sea turtle found dead, believed to be due to plastic digestion, on the beach at Pulau Kerengga, near Pulau Redang.
Ruzaidi added that last year, a total of 51 turtle deaths were recorded by the department, and the majority involved green sea turtles.
We NEED to do better, guys. We must act now before we lose them for good.
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
