Today, 23rd May is World Turtle Day (WTD) and we at the Turtle Research and Rehabilitation Group (TRRG) have many reasons to shell-e-brate!

First, a little about WTD. It was initiated in 2000 by the American Tortoise Rescue. The group brings attention to turtle conservation issues and highlights ways each of us can help protect these gentle but jeopardized animals. You can click here for suggested actions you can take to honor these fascinating creatures.

The six basic ways to help save turtles are beautifully depicted in our new volunteer T-shirts designed by I-Sin, a young and talented fresh graduate in interface design who participated in our Turtle Camps when she was 10 years old. She is also the niece of Chang Fee Ming whose watercolour rendition of a green turtle graces our homepage.

I find it ironic that on this day I have to announce that I will be retiring from the university, with effect from tomorrow, 24 May 2009. I will no longer manage the marine turtle conservation project at Chagar Hutang as my bosses have decided to let younger staff handle it. I leave Chagar Hutang with no regrets and I am really pleased that it is what it is today – a haven for nesting green and hawksbill turtles that is recognised as a world class turtle sanctuary. I am sure the new managers will bring Chagar Hutang to even greater heights and I wish them all the very best.

I am planning to develop an independent Turtle Institute at the Penarik area in northern Terengganu and hope to put all my energy into making it a world class centre for freshwater turtle work.

I will conclude by posting some pictures taken during my latest trips to Chagar Hutang.

Cherishing moments in Chagar Hutang with Mahadi and Man. These two have seen me struggle over the years to bring Chagar Hutang to what it is today. We were interviewed by Cik Rabil Sitta from the UMT Press on 24 April 2009.

With Meike (far left) who was with us for 2 weeks in May 2009 to help coordinate volunteer activities. Finally, I was able to bring my friend and collaborator, Dr Gerald Kuchling and his wife Guundie to Chagar Hutang. Gerald is world renowned for his work on reproduction of freshwater turtles. He is currently working with me on the reproductive aspects of river terrapins in Malaysia. Guundie is also well-known as an artist and author.

Goodbye, Chagar Hutang, the beach most visited by me in the last 17 years and to which I have given some of the best years of my life.

• Gerald and Guundie Kuchling @ TCC
• How many species of turtles are there in Malaysia?
• Turtle Blogathon kicks off today
• Little Princess, the amazing hawksbill that nests in Chagar Hutang
• We end the year on a high note