The questionnaire survey that we carried out in the major rivers in Terengganu not too long ago brought about some really interesting findings. One of them was the discovery of sizable river terrapin populations in the Kerteh and Kemaman Rivers that we were otherwise not aware about. In addition, we also found out that there wasn’t an agency that was carrying out any river terrapin related projects in these rivers, whether research or conservation based.

During the interviews in the villages along the Kerteh and Kemaman Rivers, we suggested that the local villagers protect the river terrapins by incubating as many river terrapin eggs as they possibly could. The suggestion was very well received and some fishermen were obviously very excited about the prospect of being able to do something to help the terrapins :D They volunteered to show us the nesting sites along the rivers, and some of them also volunteered to incubate the terrapin eggs in the compound of their houses.

However, one problem remains. The egg collectors who wait by the nesting banks for the female terrapins to lay their eggs must be compensated. And TCC does not have an allocation for the purchase of these eggs (because we did not foresee the fact that there would be so many river terrapins in these rivers!).

Hence we came up with a “Help Buy A River Terrapin Egg” campaign. Each river terrapin egg costs RM 5 (they cost more in the Setiu River) and monies raised from this campaign would be used to purchase terrapin eggs in the Kerteh and Kemaman Rivers. Please help us raise the necessary funds by “buying a river terrapin egg”. We will send you a THANK YOU card as a token of our appreciation.

We would also appreciate it if you would help solicit some “egg purchases” from your family, friends, colleagues and course/classmates too! Plus, it would save us some postage to send the THANK YOU cards in bulk :D If you need further information/clarifications, don’t be shy, email us at cp@turtleconservationcentre.org and we will get back to you ASAP!

We would like to thank Ng Beng Siang for the beautiful picture of the river terrapin hatchling and Amos Tai for designing the pretty THANK YOU card :D

Addendum:

Representatives from three villages along the Kemaman River, i.e. Kampung Binjai, Kampung Pasir Gajah and Kampung Dadong, have agreed to collect and incubate the river terrapin eggs without TCC having to buy them! That said, the monies raised from this “Help Buy a River Terrapin Egg” campaign will be used to purchase terrapin eggs from the Setiu River instead.

• What are we up to, now that the monsoon is here?
• Notice boards installed on major terrapin nesting banks
• Terrapin Conservation Work Initiated in the Kemaman River
• Terrapin release in conjunction with Karnival Emping
• Freedom for 50 terrapins