Protected Turtle Kept As Sideshow at Farm

By R. Sittamparam

JOHOR BARU, Mon. – A nature group is concerned that a young Hawksbill turtle, a protected species, is being kept as a sideshow for tourists at a kelong (fish farm) near here.

According to the Johor branch of the Malaysian Nature Society, there have been numerous complaints from foreign visitors who have seen the turtle which is kept in a net.

The kelong is close to the Pulau Kukup National Park in Pontian.

A branch spokesman said the Hawksbill was a threatened species and was protected by the Fisheries Department.

He called on the authorities to take action to free the Hawksbill into the sea where it belongs.

The Hawksbill is one of four species of marine turtles that visit Malaysian shores. The others are the Green, leatherback and Olive Ridley species.

He said it was surprising that although all turtle species were protected under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment, this Hawksbill ended up in the kelong.

He added that MNS Johor received an email last Wednesday from a Singaporean tourist about the turtle.

In the email which MNS Johor forwarded to NST, Justin Duffy said while on a day trip to Kukup he was taken to the kelong and was surprised to be shown the turtle.

“On inquiry our guide happily told us the turtle was indeed a protected species.

“I’m not an expert on turtles but to me it looked like a Hawksbill turtle. If it is, I’m curious to know if they are allowed to be kept like this,” Duffy added.

A state Fisheries Department spokesman, when contacted, said the Hawksbill was a protected turtle species but there was no provision under the law to take action against someone keeping it.

However, he said officers from the department would investigate the claim and advise the kelong operator to free the turtle.

He also said the department has several hatcheries at turtle landing spots in Mersing and several islands there.

The eggs are gathered for safekeeping and the hatchlings subsequently released into the sea.