Walking

Key
Yellow Pin – Nest (data number – Width of track)
Dark Blue Pin – False Nest (data number – Width of track)
Green Pin – False Crawl (Data number – width of track)
Light Blue – Body pit no track (data number – info)
Purple Pin – Painted Terrapin Track (data number – Width of track)
White Pin – Hawksbill Carcass
White Arrows – Section markers

Abstract

All four species of sea turtles in Terengganu are under severe pressure. Population numbers have dropped by more than 80% for Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) and for the Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) turtles, nesting numbers are below 20 nests per year (Chan, 2006). Currently, nesting data is collected from official hatcheries who receive eggs from licensed turtle egg collectors. The current method underestimates the nesting population with the egg collectors preferring to sell the eggs at the market rather than to official hatcheries (DoF, 2008) with suggestions that only 50% of nests are sold and incubated in hatcheries (Chan, 2004). Turtle track surveys which are the most commonly used tool for collecting nesting numbers on a large scale are not presently conducted on a large scale in the State of Terengganu. On the 16th June 2010 (World Sea Turtle day), which is the middle of the nesting season, a track survey commenced starting at Tanjong Jara in the south and continued northwards to Kuala Besut lasting 10 days, surveying 200km of beach and encompassing 10 islands. A total of 106 nests, 40 false nests and 60 false crawls were recorded. Using nesting numbers from tanjung tukas, (a beach, within the survey area, where accurate nesting numbers have been recorded) annual numbers of turtle nests from the surveyed area were estimated to be in excess of 3095 with over 3795 nests for the whole of Terengganu. The survey estimates double the number of nests will be laid in 2010 than was recorded in 1999. Considering an error factor of 50% (level of eggs given to hatcheries by egg collectors) in the previous population estimates the nesting numbers can be considered similar in 1999 and 2010. Unfortunately the nesting numbers in 2010 are expected to be high, due to a natural cycle in sea turtle nesting, where some years turtles nest in high numbers and others in low numbers due to the length of migration (1-5 years) by sea turtles. The distribution of the nests suggests the basic infrastructure for sea turtle conservation is adequate with hatcheries being present at the majority of the top 20 nesting sites. Efforts however must be focused on increasing egg deposition by egg collectors. One area of concern is the 40km stretch from Merang to Bukit Keluang. WWF-Malaysia run a sea turtle hatchery in the area but numbers of nests being incubated are far lower than expected due to the project being new. Furthermore the highest density of turtle nests surveyed was 4.6nests/km/week. A medium density of turtle nests is considered to be above 7 nests/km/week (Canbolat, 2004) therefore it is clear to see that the nesting population of Terengganu is severely impoverished and conservation efforts must be increased before all four species go extinct.

The following recommendations have been made;

• Repeat survey on a regular basis (weekly) to create an accurate nesting census to measure percentage of nests being incubated;
• Different agencies (government, NGO’s, resorts and volunteers) to be responsible for surveying different sections of beach;
• Survey the entire coastline of Terengganu;
• Ground truthing to be conducted to account for human error;
• Increase the number of eggs being incubated – 100% for impoverished populations (Chan, 2006)
o Ban the sale of sea turtle eggs;
o Reduce demand for turtle eggs through education especially children;
o Increase price paid for eggs deposited in hatcheries;
• Increase efforts for turtle conservation from Merang to Bukit Keluang;

The full report has not yet been finalised.  Once its finalised it will be made public here.