 The Protection of Turtles
in Malaysia |
 This page is dedicated to
the small and relatively un-known nesting sites in Port Dickson, the
seaside area of the state of Negeri Sembilan. |
It should be noted here that neither Reefwatch nor the World Wildlife Fund have any reference to Port Dickson in their data-banks of information on turtle nesting sites. It should also be noted that in 2009, our company was fortunate to have a private audience with our state Menteri Besar during which we proposed that the state government legislate for at least one marine park in Port Dickson. As a result of that meeting, we also gave a 30 minute presentation to the state's "PASCO" or committee on tourism development, as well as meetings with the Tourism Action Council and UPEN, the body responsible for considering and recommending monetary allocations for worthy tourism development projects. For all these meetings, we included a budget estimate of between RM150,000 and RM250,000 for each of our recommended two (2) marine parks. The only reason that the cost was so high was because of the necessity to provide 24 hour security with CCTV and a raised 'inspection' platform for tourists. If people could be convinced not to steel eggs, that would not be necessary. After two years of trying, the end result was NOTHING. During the nesting season, turtle eggs can be purchased at several small pasar malam (night markets) along the Port Dickson area. Average cost is around RM2.50 each (US$0.75c). A chicken egg which has more nutritional benefits and is not poisonous, costs RM0.26sen, 1/10th cost.  This
is an example of a simple turtle sanctuary. However, in Malaysia, this
would not be good enough. People would still steel the eggs and the new
hatchlings would not be safe from predators. These turtles probably end up as soup while the world's population continues to decline from ignorant people like these. I say ignorant because they don't know. Nobody has taken the time to educate them on why they should not - the meat is poisonous and a viable tourism industry around these creatures, is worth millions. |
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