PEKA to plant Merambong trees to save rare turtle species

GEORGE TOWN: The Association for the Protection of Natural Heritage of Malaysia (PEKA) will organise the fifth edition of the Save-Our-Rainforest Race (SORR) at the Taman Negara in Teluk Bahang to promote the importance of keeping Mother Nature and her natural beauty intact.

PEKA Penang chairman Pam Ooi Ai See said the Penang edition of SORR would also include the planting of scaevola frutescens or more commonly know as Merambong tree on the coastal area of Kerachut here.

She explained that Penang Island had two out of seven rare species of turtles that came here for nesting and Merambong trees provided a suitable temperature for turtles to lay eggs.

“The Green turtle and the OliveRidley turtle are the two rare species of turtles that come here to lay eggs only at the Merambong tree. We need to plant more Merambong trees on Kerachut and Kampi beaches in order to create a good environment for the turtle to build their nest,” she told reporters yesterday.

The Penang SORR is a forest trekking adventure race-style which does not involve running but will enable participants to enjoy mother nature and experience its sheer beauty.

However, Ooi said that due to over development in the state, the ecosystem had been affected and the habitat for the turtles had been damaged.

She said the Penang SORR hopes to attract more than 1,000 participants to join the activity in preserving the mother nature and providing a better place for turtles to lay eggs.

“The surviving rate for every turtle egg is very low and it takes 50 to 60 days for the eggs to hatch but only one out 1,000 will successfully enter adulthood after returning to the sea,” she said.

The Penang SORR on March 25, will include 14.8km forest trekking adventure and it will start at Sekolah Menengah Teluk Bahang.

Those who want to take part in the programme can register online at www.pekamalaysia.org with an entrance fee of RM80 for each participant.

The event is supported by Penang Gerakan and according to its publicity bureau chief Ooi Zhi Yi, the party will send its representative to attend the programme. - Bernama