FIREMEN SAVE RARE TURTLE

Endangered reptile with only 3 flippers released back to sea

NUR AQIDAH AZIZI PORT DICKSON nur@nst.com.my

TSATURDAY, MAY 13, 2017

HE 60kg turtle rescued by firemen at the Tuanku Jaafar power station on Thursday has been identified as a critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata).

Port Dickson Fisheries Department head Ashraf Ghaus said: “The beaches here are a favourite for such turtles to lay eggs. We believe that most females return here each time they are ready to nest. Not only do they appear on the same beach, they often emerge within a few hundred metres

z of where they last nested,” he said, adding that the turtle was known locally as penyu karah or penyu sisik.

“The nesting season is from April to October and during this period, it is common to stumble on turtles here,” he said.

Ashraf said the reptile, which was found trapped in a net, was the first case recorded this year.

“We believe the turtle was trying to swim back to the beach to prepare for the nesting season.

“However, because its front right flipper was missing, its swimming abilities could have been affected and this may have led to it being trapped in the net,” he said.

Five firemen were deployed to the scene at 1.20pm on Thursday after Tenaga Nasional Bhd lodged a report about the turtle around noon. The firemen hauled the turtle out with a rope and released it back into the sea.

JAMALUDIN PIC BY MOHD AZREN The red banner at the Taman Austin Perdana surau in Johor Baru yesterday.

PIC BY MOHD KHIDIR ZAKARIA A fireman struggling against the strong current to rescue the turtle at the Tuanku Jaafar power station in Port Dickson on Thursday.