It may be too late for the leatherback turtle population here, but there is still hope for the green and hawksbill turtles.
BERJAYA Redang Beach Resort financial controller Norazman Chung was seen busy collecting rubbish on Chagar Hutang during the recent Redang Island Clean-Up Day. Chagar Hutang, a remote beach on the northern side of the popular Terengganu island, is specially set aside by the Terengganu State Government for turtle rehabilitation.
Sand mining operations at Tebing Pasir Penarik, here, will not affect the area designated for the nesting site of river terrapins, said State Agriculture and Regional Development committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jidin Shafee.
Fifty river terrapins were released into the Setiu River during the third annual Terrapin Independence Day ceremony.
Efforts to conserve river terrapins, which have been categorised as among the top 25 most endangered species in the world, are showing signs of success.
Sand mining operations at Tebing Pasir Penarik, a prime nesting area for river terrapins here, has upset villagers and a turtle research organisation.