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KUALA
TERENGGANU -
The leatherback turtle has been identified as the
most endangered turtle species in the country with a 99 per cent drop in its number since
man started hunting it several hundred years ago.
Universiti Putra Malaysia Associate Professor Dr Chan Eng Heng said since the
Sea Turtle Research Unit was formed in 1993, barely 10 leatherbacks had been sighted up
to May this year compared to 2,000 in the 1950s.
"The population decline can be attributed mainly to the exploitation of turtle
eggs."
As for other species Chan said, only 400 green turtles were
spotted in Sarawak compared to 4,500 in 1930s.She said there was a more than 50 per cent decline in the sea turtle popuation around the
world.
"For instance, in some countries in the Southeast Asian region, such as Khram Island
in Thailand, merely 50 green turtles and 10 hawksbills are found
compared to 158 and 45 respectively in the 1950s."
Outside the Southeast Asian region, Chan said the population of sea turtles
had also plunged. "Less than 100 green turtles can be found in
Ogasawara, Japan, after 1,800 adult green turtles are killed each year.
The number of longgerhead turtles in Cape Island in the US has also
dropped from 3,000 in 1970s to 500 now."
In the US, she said about 55,000 turtles were killed in prawn trawl nets
and 21,000 turtles died in Japanese tuna long lines in high sea
operations. Chan said damage done to sea turtle habitats was also
shrinking turtle population. "Mankind destroys the natural habitats through anchoring, dredging,
dynamiting and bottom trawling. In view of this, she said, intensified
efforts must be made to save the sea turtles and find ways to improve
their population around the world.
"The turtles have ecological values which we cannot ignore. They help
to keep the balance of the eco-system as well as to cycle nutrients by
transporting the substances from rich feeding grounds to nutrient poor
nesting sites."
By
Azura Abas |
