Perhentian Turtle Project Report

TEAM BUILDIN G
EXPEDITIONS
COMMUNITY PROJECT
ECOTOURISM
2015
OVERVIEW REPORT
Visit our website and Facebook page for more information :
www.perhentianturtleproject.com
www.facebook.com/perhentianturtleproject
Check out the video for our project here :
http://youtu.be/JrmPQug63PE
For further inquiries reach us at:
turtle@ecoteer.com
2015 OVERVIEW REPORT
Acknowledgements
The sea turtle photo identification research under the Perhentian
the turtle photos and spreading the words to increase the number
Turtle Project (PTP) was conducted in collaboration with Terengganu
of turtle sightings. We would like specifically thank Alunan Resort,
State Department of Fisheries (DoF) and under a research permit
Perhentian Island Resort, Coral View Resort and Reef Chalet for
from Department of Marine Park to build a sea turtle database
supporting our awareness campaigns aimed to provide information
and movement map at Perhentian Islands. We would also like to
and educate public.
thank National Marine Aquarium and Durham University Charities
Kommittee for the financial assistance that made this research
We would like to extend our gratitude to the dedicated Perhentian
possible and Kaginic Corporation for funding the turtle camps.
Islands Turtle Crew from the Department of Fisheries for their
constant efforts to protect sea turtles and their nesting habitats. It
This is a report of the Perhentian Turtle Project for season 2015.
has been a great pleasure working with Noor Hisam Bin Mohommad,
The work presented here were done by our dedicated team – Long
Ismail Bin Yaakob, Amran Bin Mohammad, Muhammad Ghazali,
Seh Ling, Nicholas John Tolen, Nazirul Amin Azmi, Petros Persad,
Saiful Nizam Bin Ismail, Mohamad Syukiiran Deraman and Che
Charlotte Emily Babbs, Muhammad Azri Fakrullah Mohd Azhar,
Husin Bin Che Harum. They have been very helpful and generous in
Terissa Ng Chiew Tsann, Csaba Szilvási and Kevin Heitzman. We
sharing their local knowledge on sea turtles, which has provided us a
would also like to express our gratitude to the volunteers and tourists
different insight and perspective to sea turtle conservation.
who were involved in the project. The continuous support of Ecoteer
Teaching and Community Project and Blue Temple Conservation staff
We are also thankful to the local boatmen and snorkel guides
is acknowledged for helping in snorkel surveys and night patrols.
for their involvement in the project and informing tourists about
Special thanks to Bubbles Dive Resort for their efforts in protecting
responsible snorkel practices. The training has been a valuable
sea turtles and collecting data, Will Forster and Thomas Brown for
sharing platform of knowledge exchange. We would like to
helping to establish a photo ID system and Christopher Town for
acknowledge the residents of Perhentian Islands for their warmth and
providing access to NaturePatternMatch.
continued support all along.
Lastly, our utmost gratitude is extended to Daniel Quilter and
The aim of reaching out to the public would not be possible without
Pavithran Damadram, co-founders of Fuze Ecoteer, who provided
the support from many other stakeholders, including resorts, guest
their ongoing support and advice. The help of Fuze Ecoteer staff
houses, chalets, dive centers, restaurants, cafes, etc. Thank you for
based in Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Merapoh is also recognised.
2015 OVERVIEW REPORT
Contents
Acknowledgement
-
Introduction
1
Objectives
2
Sea Turtle Photo Identification Research
3
Sightings
3
Population Size and Sex Ratios
5
Nesting Data
6
Distribution and Movements
7
Identified Threats
9
Conservation Programmes
11
Snorkel Guides and Boatmen Training
11
Resort Staff Training
13
Awareness Campaign
14
Turtle Camp
16
Cleanup
18
Conclusion
19
V
2015 OVERVIEW REPORT
Introduction
The Perhentian Islands, a popular tourist destination, are home to
This method is non-invasive and reliable for long-term
over 1,900 local villagers, as well as nesting and foraging grounds
monitoring, plus allows trained and untrained villagers and
for two sea turtle species, namely green turtle (Chelonia mydas)
tourists to be directly engaged in research and conservation of
and hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). The islands are the
sea turtles in the Perhentians. It also allows for male sea turtles
second highest nesting ground at Terengganu’s Archipelago,
to be studied as other methods such as tagging normally take
recording at least 250 nests annually. The primary conservation
place on nesting beaches, thus only study female individuals.
strategy focus on protecting turtle eggs on nesting beaches.
The village snorkel guides and boatmen, resort staff and divers
Other than nesting data, there is a paucity of information,
from dive centres were briefed about the project and trained
specifically on the turtles that spend most of the time in the
to take suitable photos. They then spread the knowledge and
water.
engaged tourists in the project through photo submissions to
the project website and social media. Our team members joined
The project was set up to better understand the turtle
different snorkel guides and boatmen in rotation to provide extra
populations around the islands using photo identification
training and guidance. By involving the locals and tourists in data
method to identify individuals. The project is novel as it is one
collection, they were directly being educated about sea turtle
of the first in Malaysia whereby automated sea turtle photo
conservation.
facial recognition is used to create a spatial and temporal map
and database of sea turtles. Many species bear distinct natural
The project also worked with the Department of Fisheries staff
markings and patterns that allows individuals to be identified
to collect data of nesting sea turtles. Posters and buntings were
from photos. Photo identification has been to identify many large
distributed and put up in snorkel boats, resorts, dive centres,
and long-lived species, including manta rays, leopard sharks,
cafes, jetty, and shops to inform the public about the project.
dolphins, whale sharks, etc. The facial scale patterns of sea turtles
Turtle exhibits were set up at different locations around the
are unique to individual. Hence, using a automated pattern
islands. Sufficient data collection can help to estimate the
matching software – Natural Pattern Match, individual sea turtles
population size, sex ratios, distribution and movements of sea
in the water and on the beach could be recognised.
turtles at Perhentian Islands Marine Park.
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2015 OVERVIEW REPORT
Objectives
The project aims to:
•
Create a sea turtle photo database by identifying individual juveniles, male and female adults.
•
Create a spatial and temporal map that shows the distribution and movements of sea turtles.
•
Educate and raise awareness among the locals and tourists through sea turtle awareness
activities and engage them in conservation efforst.
•
Collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to maximise conservation efforts by taking
consideration of the interests of these stakeholders.
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2015 OVERVIEW REPORT
Sea Turtle Photo Identification Research
SIGHTINGS
A total of 1836 sightings were obtained from 2009 to 2015, of which 886 (48.2%) from our team, 306 (16.7%) from other
conservation projects, such as Perhentian Community and Teaching Project (PCT), Blue Temple Conservation (BTC) and
Bubbles Turtle and Reef Conservation Project (BUB), 429 (23.4%) from local villagers, 16 (0.9%) from resort staff and
divers from dive centres and 199 (10.8%) from tourists (Table 1).
Table 1. The number of sightings collected from 2009 until 2015.
Year
Number of sightings
Perhentian Turtle
Project
Other Conservation
Projects
Local Villagers
Resorts/Dive
Centres
Tourists
2009
0
0
6
0
0
2010
0
0
0
0
2
2011
0
1
2
0
7
2012
0
13
4
0
49
2013
0
28
110
0
36
2014
0
123
183
1
37
2015
886
136
124
15
68
Total
886
306
429
16
199
In 2015, 886 (72.1%) of 1229 sightings were collected by our team, followed by 136 (11.1%) from other conservation
projects, 124 (10.1%) from local villagers, 68 (5.5%) from tourists and 15 (1.2%) from resorts/dive centres (Fig. 1). As the
project started in 2015, a total of 607 photo sightings from the previous years were gathered from other sources, of
which more than half were contributed by local villagers and another half from other conservation projects and tourists
(Fig. 2).
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2015 OVERVIEW REPORT
2009
2014
Figure 1. The number of turtle sightings in 2015.
2015
Figure 2. The number of sea turtle sightings from 2009 until 2014, contributed by other conservation projects,
locals, resorts/dive centres and tourists.
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2015 OVERVIEW REPORT
Population Size and Sex Ratios
The photo database contains 101 individual green turtles
was unknown.
(14 male adults, 67 female adults and 20 juveniles of
The foraging population were not the same individuals
unknown sex) and 10 hawksbill turtles of undetermined
as the nesting population. There is no record of foraging
sex. The profile for each individual consists of photos from
sea turtles nesting on the islands and vice versa. All 10
both sides of the face (Fig. 3). The sex of the individual
individuals of hawksbill turtles were seen in the water. 56
was determined based on the size and length of its tail.
green turtles (14 male adults, 22 female adults and 20
Male has a larger and longer tail. As male juveniles have
juveniles) were seen in the water whereas 45 female green
not developed the tail, therefore the sex for juveniles
turtles were sighted nesting in the Perhentians
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
Figure 3. The photo database contains individual profiles of both side of the face of a male adult green turtle (AB), a female adult green turtle (C-D), a juvenile green turtle (E-F) and a hawksbill (G-H).
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2015 OVERVIEW REPORT
Figure 4. The number of nests and identified individual females on nesting beaches in 2015.
NESTING DATA
Nine and 36 female green turtles were identified from
A total of 20741 eggs were relocated to the hatchery and
sightings taken in year 2014 and 2015, respectively.
17579 hatchlings successfully emerged from the nest.
None of these individuals were seen in the waters of
Please not that hatching data for 7 nests that were laid
the Perhentians. Prior to the use of photo identification
from November onwards, which accounted for 524 eggs,
to identify individual nesters, only data on the number
are yet to be recorded. On average, the incubation period
of landings, eggs and hatching success were recorded.
was approximately 49 days.
Nesting density may not accurately infer the population
size as a female can lay between 1 to 9 nests during a
Overall, the average hatching success is 86.3%. As nests
breeding season. It is important to note that the number
were relocated from different beaches, those that were
is just an estimate and not all nesting individuals were
relocated from other beaches via boat transfer had a lower
identified due to poor quality or absence of photos. 267
hatching success (86.1%) than those that we relocated
nests were laid by at least 36 females in 2015 (Fig. 4).
from the same beach as the hatchery was located at
Nesting turtles showed fidelity to nesting beach, almost
(87.5%). Nonetheless, the difference was not significant.
always returning to the same beach and sometimes using
other nearby beaches.
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2015 OVERVIEW REPORT
RECYCLING PROGRAMME
Sea turtle were seen feeding at 12 snorkel/dive sites and
There were repeated sightings of the same individual at
nesting at eight beaches as shown in the map (Fig. 5).
the same location, showing site fidelity. Some individuals
Due to the different diets between two species, green
were seen at different locations, showing movements
turtles and hawksbill turtles have different habitat use.
around the islands. A juvenile green turtle were sighted
Green turtles were commonly seen around sea grass beds,
very often at Teluk Pauh and was spotted once sleeping
particularly at Teluk Pauh and Atas Busong, collectively
on branching corals at Batu Layar by divers during a night
known as Turtle Bay, and at times among the coral reefs.
dive. A few hawksbill turtles were seen moving around
Meanwhile, hawksbill turtles were always spotted around
different snorkel/dive sites, nonetheless still among coral
the reefs feeding on sponges and corals.
reefs.
Almost all beaches at Perhentian Islands are nesting
Two of the foraging green turtles had tags from Redang
beaches. The beaches that showed higher number of
Islands on the front flippers. Three of the nesting females
nests every year are Tanjung Tukas, Pinang Seribu and Tiga
had tags also from Redang Islands. This shows that the
Ruang. The Department of Fisheries’s hatchery is situated
turtles migrate between the Terengganu’s Archipelago and
at Tiga Ruang, which is also the beach where our team
may be of the same population.
collected nesting data.
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2015 OVERVIEW REPORT
Figure 5. Sea turtle map at the Perhentian Islands Marine Park
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2015 OVERVIEW REPORT
Identified Threats
Besides poaching of turtle eggs, boats were identified as one of the main threats causing the mortality of sea turtles
(Fig. 6). In 2015, four dead turtles were reported with photos and all showed injuries from boat strike. One dead turtle
matched a juvenile green turtle in the database whereas the remaining had decomposed beyond recognition. There
were a few individuals that survived and the injuries eventually healed showing distinct scarring.
A
B
C
D
E
F
Figure 6. A female green turtle with a cracked shell
boat stike had shell with incomplete edge on the left
proximal to the right front flipper (A) but survived and
(D); The juvenile turtle that was reported dead at
the injury healed shhowing white-coloured scars on the
Turtle Bay and the facial patterns matched one of the
shell (B); A female green turtle that fed at Perhentian
juveniles in the database (E); A dead green turtle found
Islands and nested at Redang Islands had a cracked
floating at the surface with badly injured shell (F).
shell (C); A female green turtle that recovered from
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2015 OVERVIEW REPORT
Tourism development, If not managed
sustainably, will have an adverse impact on
sea turtles and the environment. Sea turtles
provide economic benefits through nonconsumptive use, which is viewing sea turtles
while snorkelling and/or diving. However, an
increased number of tourists and irresponsible
human behaviours around a turtle can cause
stress or disturbance to the animal. Ecofriendly guidelines should be adhered during
turtle watch to minimise the act of humans
chasing after and touching sea turtles in the
water (Fig. 7).
Protection of the habitat is equally important
to the sustainability of the species. Littering is
a huge problem on the islands. As the number
of tourists increases, so does the amount of
the rubbish. Rubbish on the beach block the
Figure 7. Turtle Bay is a popular stop for all snorkel
path of nesting turtles. Plastic bags that end
tours for tourists to watch turtles. During the peak
up in the sea might be mistaken as jellyfish,
season, more than 5 boats, each carrying 2-12
the prey of sea turtles. Sewage runoff from
tourists, crowding around a turtle causes disturbance
land also cause pollution and disrupt the
and stress to the turtle.
health and functionality of the ocean.
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2015 OVERVIEW REPORT
Conservation Prog rammes
Snorkel Guides and Boatmen Training
A key initiative to raise awareness and spread conservation
Part of the training required the snorkel guides and
efforts was educating snorkel guides and boatmen in safe
boatmen to participate in a role play, taking turns to
snorkeling and also teaching them how to conduct safe
practise safety briefing and being a tourist. Our team
turtle watching. As tourism is the livelihood of the islands,
followed them out on snorkel survey for evaluation and
these snorkel guides and boatmen are keys to how tourists
feedback, which is an ongoing initiative.
and locals interact with marine wildlife.
The training was based on 2-way interactions and the
In collaboration with Department of Marine Park and
content of the training was improved trough sharing of
Reef Check Malaysia, our team helped to train 34 snorkel
knowledge and experiences. Experienced snorkel guides
guides and boatmen to provide safety briefing and
and boatmen had good knowledge to conduct eco-
environmental information according to Marine Park rules
friendly snorkel tours and most were able to converse in
and Green Fins code of conducts, which covered the dos
English. Only some struggled to give briefing in English.
and don’ts in a Marine Park, how to put on life jacket, mask
and snorkel, how to snorkel safely and the common coral
It was evident that snorkel guides and boatmen tend to
reefs species (Fig. 8).
please their customers, which sometimes resulting in non
eco-friendly snorkel practices. Conserving the environment
During the training, our training on sea turtle photo
and minimise impacts from tourism activities are not one
identification research included introduction to species of
party’s efforts. The first step is to provide information to
sea turtles in Malaysia, threats to sea turtles, characteristics
encourage eco-friendly snorkel practices that maximize
to differentiate green turtles from hawksbill turtles, how to
snorkel experience and reduce detrimental impacts on the
recognise individuals from facial scale patterns, short eco-
environment.
friendly snorkel briefing for tourists at Turtle Bay.
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2015 OVERVIEW REPORT
ongoing evaluation of snorkel guides and boatmen
conducting snorkel tours for improvements (E-F).
A
D
B
E
C
Figure 8. Eco-snorkel guide training for the
local snorkel guides and boatmen that included
presentation and exercises (A-B), role play to
F
practise giving briefing to tourists (C-D) and
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2015 OVERVIEW REPORT
Resort Staff Training
Almost all beaches are nesting grounds for sea turtles. Although the number of landings to developed beaches with
bright lights is low but occasionally one or two females nested at darker beach areas that are in between resorts. Resort
staff from Petani Beach had informed us twice when a turtle came ashore and one of it was a hawksbill turtle, which was
the only hawksbill nest in relocated to the hatchery in 2015.
It is a rare sight to watch turtle lay eggs on resort beaches, therefore when one does come up the beach, human
disturbance is high because everyone wants to see the turtle and take photos. Due to darkness, people tend to use flash
photography which usually disturbs the turtle. Therefore, training was given to resort staff at Petani Beach to manage the
crowd in order to reduce disturbance on the turtle while still allowing turtle watch.
The knowledge of sea turtles, importance to humans and ecosystem and threats to sea turtles were explained to the
staff. Unlike the eco-snorkel guide training, this training focused on collecting nesting data and managing tourists on
the beach, for example how to locate a turtle, approach a turtle, check for tags, take carapace measurements and take
photos without flash, etc (Fig. 9). The protocol is to call the staff of Department of Fisheries, who will arrive by boat to
collect the eggs and relocate to the hatchery.
B
C
Figure 9. The training included a presentation on sea turtles (A) and a
demonstration to collect research data on nesting females (B), followed
by staff repeat the data collection procedure of measuring the carapace
A
13
(C) and taking photos without flash (D).
D
2015 OVERVIEW REPORT
Awareness Campaign
Raising awareness amongst tourists is vital in promoting
safe turtle watching and respect for the Marine Park. Every
week our team took turn to go to different resorts to brief
tourists on Marine Park rules, such as wearing life jackets
and swimming in the buoy line, as well as not disturbing
marine wildlife around the Perhentians.
A
The resorts were very supportive and had provided space
for our team to set up a booth and gathered their tourists
for briefing (Fig. 10). There were two snorkel tours daily
and we arranged to brief the tourists before snorkel tours
and stayed on to brief any by-pass tourists. In addition to
our snorkel survey, we painted “Please Do Not Touch The
B
Turtle” on our kayak and kayaked around Turtle Bay to
spread awareness to those snorkelling in the area to
Figure 10. A moveable information board for our
see turtles.
weekly awareness campaign at different resorts (A-B);
As there are at least 40 resorts, chalets, dive centres
they joined us on a snorkel survey.
at Perhentian Islands, posters and buntings providing
information on eco-friendly turtle watch practices in the
Awareness comes after knowledge and providing
waters and on land, as well as photo identification research
information and knowledge is essential to encourage
were distributed around the islands, including the shops at
eco-friendly behaviours towards the environment.
the mainland jetty, to spread the awareness. Information
Engaging the public in research and conservation efforts
board and turtle exhibit was set up at some resorts so that
not only creates awareness but also helps promote such
tourists can read and learn about sea turtles at all time.
behaviours. The implementation of eco-friendly snorkel
Tourists would also visit our project to understand more
practices is possible with the cooperation of both the
about the research and conservation work and at times
snorkel guides/boatmen and tourists.
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2015 OVERVIEW REPORT
C D
E F
G H
Figure 10 (Continued). A booth during World Ocean Day
to the hatchery (F); While conducting snorkel surveys,
organised by Department of Marine Park (C); A turtle
our team kayaked around the feeding ground to
bulletin board and mini exhibit display at a resort (D);
spread awareness (G); A group of tourists joining us on
Buntings put up at various locations around the islands
a snorkel survey (H).
to raise awareness (E); A educational visit with tourists
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2015 OVERVIEW REPORT
Turtle Camp
We believe in conservation through education. Two
2D1N turtle camps were organised in collaboration with
Bubbles Turtle and Coral Project for the local primary
school children, aged 9-11 years old. The first camp was
conducted in conjunction to World Turtle Day in May and
the second camp was conducted in October, both at a
A
nesting beach named Tanjung Tukas.
The camp aimed to educate the local children about
sea turtles and the importance to protect these species
through various games and activities indoor and on the
beach. The children were taught about sea turtle species,
their life cycle, importance to the ecosystems and humans,
B
as well as the threats that endanger sea turtles. They were
also shown how turtle researchers collect data and were
taught to measure the carapace and collect eggs from a
mock nest (Fig. 11).
At night, the children each coloured a turtle mask and in
groups took turn to patrol the beach. One by one they
C
carefully removed the eggs from the nest to be relocated
to the hatchery. For most children, it was their first time
seeing a turtle coming ashore to lay eggs and despite
the darkness, most of them were excited about the
experience.
Figure 11. A presentation to explain to the local school
children about sea turtles (A); A kid colouring his turtle
mask while waiting for his group’s turn to patrol the
beach at night (B); Games and activities on the beach
the resembled the sea turtle life cycle and the threats
they face throughout their life journey (C-D);
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2015 OVERVIEW REPORT
On the second day, we did a recap of what they had
learned. The children were also taught about coral reefs
and the importance to protect the reefs that serve as
habitats to marine life. It is important to educate the future
generation to create awareness and cultivate behaviours
that are environmental friendly. Turtle egg consumption,
a tradition among the local villagers who perceive it as
D
food source, is threatening the survival of the sea turtles.
We hope that through education and awareness that the
number of locals who consume turtle eggs will reduce.
Besides the presence of coral reefs, including sea turtles, is
vital to the local villagers whose livelihoods rely on tourism
activities.
E
Figure 11 (Continued). Games and activities on the beach
the resembled the sea turtle life cycle and the threats
they face throughout their life journey (C-D); Everyone
gathered behind the turtle while she was laying eggs
(E); A group photo with the turtle masks on (F).
F
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2015 OVERVIEW REPORT
A
D
Cleanup
We had done several cleanups around the islands
throughout the season (Fig. 12), mainly tackling the
nesting beach at Tiga Ruang, as rubbish and even sand
B
castles can obstruct the way and impede movement
and sight of nesting turtles and hatchlings. Most rubbish
was either left behind or being washed up to the beach.
Therefore, regular cleanup is necessary to ensure the
beach is kept clean and safe.
Figure 12. Regular cleanups around the islands.
C
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2015 OVERVIEW REPORT
Conclusion
Using photo identification as an individual identification method has enabled us to better understand the
foraging and nesting populations of sea turtles at Perhentian Islands Marine Park, such as their population
size, sex ratios, habitat use, distribution, movement patterns. The preliminary findings were used to develop
a sea turtle photo database of the islands, which can be expanded to include a wider geographical range.
Therefore, the project aims to develop an online database to enable sharing of data with others.
The project was set up to collaborate in conservation efforts with the relevant stakeholders, including
governmental agencies, NGOs, local villagers, business entities and tourists, to conserve sea turtles and
protect their habitats. Collaborative efforts are challenging as it is essential to consider the needs and
interests of all parties and take appropriate measures to achieve conservation objectives.
The project also serves as a platform that brings different stakeholders to work together. For instance,
through the weekly awareness campaign, resorts and dive centres started to inform us on sea turtle related
issues, such as reporting on a sighting of dead turtle, when a turtle climbs ashore to lay eggs, etc. This
information will be recorded and reported to the authority.
Through the help and cooperation of all parties, the research and conservation efforts increase. Due to
limited manpower and fund, we were not able survey all the sites on the islands but the survey efforts
to collect research data were increased due to the involvement of all parties. By engaging the public in
conservation efforts like surveys, cleanups, etc, people gain knowledge and experience which increase their
awareness towards the animals and environment.
Ongoing monitoring for a longer period is needed to determine the population trends. Conservation
measures should also include protecting the sea turtles in the sea and their marine habitat. Everyone plays an
important role in conserving these species because conservation work is not a one-man show but together,
we can help to ensure the survival of sea turtles while sustaining the livelihoods of the people.
19
Visit our website and Facebook page for more information :
www.perhentianturtleproject.com
www.facebook.com/perhentianturtleproject
Check out the video for our project here :
http://youtu.be/JrmPQug63PE
For further inquiries reach us at:
turtle@ecoteer.com