June has kept us busy with river and painted terrapin releases. A total of almost 500 river terrapins and 70 painted terrapins were released into the Setiu and Dungun Rivers in three separate events. This has been the largest number released since we launched our Terrapin Independence Day in 2005.

Advances have also been made in the marine turtle conservation project in Redang. A total of 127 nestings were recorded in June, bringing the cumulative total for the year to 333 nests. With July, August, September and October still to go, I expect a total of no less than 600 nests for this year.

Our volunteers continue to revel in the activities of the programme. You can feel how they have been touched by the conservation project in the chronicles and photographs in their blog sites.

One of our annual remigrant volunteers, Lim Puay Aun, with the help of the other volunteers in Slot M (21-28 June 2008) has marked the trail for the upriver hike. The pictures below taken from his blog will make you not want to miss the spectacular view of Chagar Hutang Bay and the beautiful plants along the way.

You can even have a therapeutic prawn spa in the most natural setting you can ever imagine. Really, the wonders of Chagar Hutang never cease and are myriad-fold. To quote Lim……. “I have been to Chagar Hutang five times already, and each time I go, I still manage to find something new, something exciting.”

As for me, I have been there countless times, and each time never fails to bring a sense of added fulfillment for me. After having handled the project for 16 years, thinking about Chagar Hutang is like second nature to me now…..

Chan, reporting on the activities of June. All photo credits to Lim Puay Aun.

• Chagar Hutang updates for July, August and September 2008
• River Terrapin Updates
• Little Princess, the amazing hawksbill that nests in Chagar Hutang
• Little Princess deposits her third nest
• Sweet labour with 16 landings in a night