"Some activities will be opened up to the public soon and among them are canoeing, visit to the Kuala Sungai Pinang mangrove forest, release of turtles, bird watching and the Canopy Walk".
If you have read the Star (12 April 2010) - "Boat trip into mangrove swamp and other activities in store at national park" (read below) then you will be surprised that one of the activities is releasing of turtles!
This is the most insane activity. Don't this people realise that releasing of turtles during the day will attract natural predators - the eagles, fish, dolphins etc? Turtles that hatched naturally at dawn, when both temperature and visibility are low have better chance to survive. Beside, these hatchlings have been struggling in the enclosure and would have been exhausted by the time they were released. Hatchlings should be immediately collected and released into the sea. Having an activity that jeopardise the lives of the turtles is not eco at all. The national park was declared to protect wildlife, but sadly, tourism is now more important than protection of wildlife. Malaysia Boleh again!
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Monday April 12, 2010
Boat trip into mangrove swamp and other activities in store at national park
By K. KASTURI DEWI
Star
OUR guide Pak Rahmat turned off the engine so as not to disturb the birds and marine life when our boat entered the Kuala Sungai Pinang mangrove forest in Penang.
Just then, an eagle perched on top of one of the pokok api-api (Avicennia spp) took flight, creating a perfect opportunity for the shutterbugs in the boat to click away their cameras.
Our boat, carrying about six of us, accompanied 10 paddlers in five canoes from the second entrance of the Penang National Park (Taman Negara Pulau Pinang) in Kuala Sungai Pinang, Balik Pulau.
Along the banks of the mangrove swamp, we saw fishermen laying traps for crabs while others were mending nets in their boats at dilapidated wooden jetties.
As the boat drifted deeper into the mangrove forest, we sat back, soaking in the tranquil ambience of the mangrove forest.
For some of us, it was our first time making such a trip into a mangrove forest by boat.
The cruise was the first organised for a group of media representatives and invited guests as part of a media familiarisation trip to the newly-upgraded Penang National Park.
The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) wildlife conservation ambassador and Era radio deejay Adifasha Juraimi was one of the invited guests.
The trip was held in conjunction with the park’s two-day Community Carnival held on April 10 and April 11 to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the site being gazetted as a national park.
After getting back to the Kuala Sungai Pinang jetty to hop on to another bigger boat, we headed for the newly built 250m-long Canopy Walk which hovers 15m above the ground.
The Canopy Walk is accessible via Sungai Teluk Tukun or Pantai Kerachut.
From the suspended walkway, one is able to view the lush forest from an interesting angle.
The soothing sounds of fresh water flowing from the mountains and the crisp cool morning air are enough to attract visitors to the Canopy Walk.
We ended the half-day tour of the park with a kampung-style lunch at the park’s administration office in Teluk Bahang.
Some activities will be opened up to the public soon and among them are canoeing, visit to the Kuala Sungai Pinang mangrove forest, release of turtles, bird watching and the Canopy Walk.
Park superintendent Wan Mohd Adib Wan Mohd Yusoh said about 20 certified nature guides would be trained to attract more visitors to the park.
“Being familiar with the places, the guides, who are locals, will be able to provide the right information to visitors,” he said.
Wan Mohd Adib said activities were now arranged by the park only upon request.
“We have plans to open up these activities to the public in the near future,” he said.
On the second day of the carnival, the Kerachut Conservation Run and a handphone photography competition were held. There were also a colouring contest, recycled invention competition, mural painting and other activities.
---------
Monday April 12, 2010
100 baby turtles released into sea
By CHRISTINA CHIN
Star
IT was an exciting affair for dozens of nature lovers as they cheered enthusiastically for more than 100 newly-hatched baby turtles that were struggling to make their way into the open sea.
The hatchlings were released from Pantai Kerachut in Muka Head, Penang.
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) wildlife conservation ambassador Adifasha Juraimi, who is also an Era radio deejay, said he was “happy and excited” to be at the Turtle Conservation Centre to witness the event.
“I am an animal lover so I am thrilled to be here. This is my first encounter with turtles and they are just so wonderful,” he said.
The release was held in conjunction with the park’s two-day Community Carnival.
Penang Fisheries Department licensing and resource protection branch chief Mohd Rafi Hassan said the centre targeted to release 6,000 turtles into the sea this year under its conservation project.
The young turtles were only released when it was dark to prevent eagles and fishes from spotting them.
“Last year, 5,200 turtles were successfully hatched from 8,543 eggs.
“We hope to collect 10,000 eggs this year and successfully hatch at least 6,000 turtles.
“Since January, we have released almost 700 baby turtles into the sea,” he said, adding that the eggs were collected from Pantai Teluk Ketapang Kecil, Pantai Teluk Kampi and Pantai Kerachut to be hatched at the centre.
The department purchases the eggs from appointed collectors at a price of RM2 each.
“So far, we have not received any reports of people collecting the eggs illegally — which is good news,” Mohd Rafi said.
Department officer Mansor Yobe said the uncertain weather conditions and temperature were the main reasons for the eggs failing to hatch.
“Here at the centre, we prefer to let the eggs hatch in the turtles’ natural habitat (on the beach) rather than in a temperature-controlled hatchery,” he said.
“This is because research has shown that in-situ hatchlings (natural) are healthier than ex-situ (hatchery) hatchlings.
“Here, the main thing we look out for are predators such as monitor lizards, palm civets and crabs.
“We recently built new fences to ensure that the hatchlings are not attacked,” he said.
In September last year, 15 baby turtles had their heads bitten off by what was believed to be a palm civet.
Mohd Rafi said the incident occurred because the eggs had hatched earlier than expected when no one was stationed there that night.
If you have read the Star (12 April 2010) - "Boat trip into mangrove swamp and other activities in store at national park" (read below) then you will be surprised that one of the activities is releasing of turtles!
This is the most insane activity. Don't this people realise that releasing of turtles during the day will attract natural predators - the eagles, fish, dolphins etc? Turtles that hatched naturally at dawn, when both temperature and visibility are low have better chance to survive. Beside, these hatchlings have been struggling in the enclosure and would have been exhausted by the time they were released. Hatchlings should be immediately collected and released into the sea. Having an activity that jeopardise the lives of the turtles is not eco at all. The national park was declared to protect wildlife, but sadly, tourism is now more important than protection of wildlife. Malaysia Boleh again!
---------
Monday April 12, 2010
Boat trip into mangrove swamp and other activities in store at national park
By K. KASTURI DEWI
Star
OUR guide Pak Rahmat turned off the engine so as not to disturb the birds and marine life when our boat entered the Kuala Sungai Pinang mangrove forest in Penang.
Just then, an eagle perched on top of one of the pokok api-api (Avicennia spp) took flight, creating a perfect opportunity for the shutterbugs in the boat to click away their cameras.
Our boat, carrying about six of us, accompanied 10 paddlers in five canoes from the second entrance of the Penang National Park (Taman Negara Pulau Pinang) in Kuala Sungai Pinang, Balik Pulau.
Along the banks of the mangrove swamp, we saw fishermen laying traps for crabs while others were mending nets in their boats at dilapidated wooden jetties.
As the boat drifted deeper into the mangrove forest, we sat back, soaking in the tranquil ambience of the mangrove forest.
For some of us, it was our first time making such a trip into a mangrove forest by boat.
The cruise was the first organised for a group of media representatives and invited guests as part of a media familiarisation trip to the newly-upgraded Penang National Park.
The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) wildlife conservation ambassador and Era radio deejay Adifasha Juraimi was one of the invited guests.
The trip was held in conjunction with the park’s two-day Community Carnival held on April 10 and April 11 to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the site being gazetted as a national park.
After getting back to the Kuala Sungai Pinang jetty to hop on to another bigger boat, we headed for the newly built 250m-long Canopy Walk which hovers 15m above the ground.
The Canopy Walk is accessible via Sungai Teluk Tukun or Pantai Kerachut.
From the suspended walkway, one is able to view the lush forest from an interesting angle.
The soothing sounds of fresh water flowing from the mountains and the crisp cool morning air are enough to attract visitors to the Canopy Walk.
We ended the half-day tour of the park with a kampung-style lunch at the park’s administration office in Teluk Bahang.
Some activities will be opened up to the public soon and among them are canoeing, visit to the Kuala Sungai Pinang mangrove forest, release of turtles, bird watching and the Canopy Walk.
Park superintendent Wan Mohd Adib Wan Mohd Yusoh said about 20 certified nature guides would be trained to attract more visitors to the park.
“Being familiar with the places, the guides, who are locals, will be able to provide the right information to visitors,” he said.
Wan Mohd Adib said activities were now arranged by the park only upon request.
“We have plans to open up these activities to the public in the near future,” he said.
On the second day of the carnival, the Kerachut Conservation Run and a handphone photography competition were held. There were also a colouring contest, recycled invention competition, mural painting and other activities.
---------
Monday April 12, 2010
100 baby turtles released into sea
By CHRISTINA CHIN
Star
IT was an exciting affair for dozens of nature lovers as they cheered enthusiastically for more than 100 newly-hatched baby turtles that were struggling to make their way into the open sea.
The hatchlings were released from Pantai Kerachut in Muka Head, Penang.
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) wildlife conservation ambassador Adifasha Juraimi, who is also an Era radio deejay, said he was “happy and excited” to be at the Turtle Conservation Centre to witness the event.
“I am an animal lover so I am thrilled to be here. This is my first encounter with turtles and they are just so wonderful,” he said.
The release was held in conjunction with the park’s two-day Community Carnival.
Penang Fisheries Department licensing and resource protection branch chief Mohd Rafi Hassan said the centre targeted to release 6,000 turtles into the sea this year under its conservation project.
The young turtles were only released when it was dark to prevent eagles and fishes from spotting them.
“Last year, 5,200 turtles were successfully hatched from 8,543 eggs.
“We hope to collect 10,000 eggs this year and successfully hatch at least 6,000 turtles.
“Since January, we have released almost 700 baby turtles into the sea,” he said, adding that the eggs were collected from Pantai Teluk Ketapang Kecil, Pantai Teluk Kampi and Pantai Kerachut to be hatched at the centre.
The department purchases the eggs from appointed collectors at a price of RM2 each.
“So far, we have not received any reports of people collecting the eggs illegally — which is good news,” Mohd Rafi said.
Department officer Mansor Yobe said the uncertain weather conditions and temperature were the main reasons for the eggs failing to hatch.
“Here at the centre, we prefer to let the eggs hatch in the turtles’ natural habitat (on the beach) rather than in a temperature-controlled hatchery,” he said.
“This is because research has shown that in-situ hatchlings (natural) are healthier than ex-situ (hatchery) hatchlings.
“Here, the main thing we look out for are predators such as monitor lizards, palm civets and crabs.
“We recently built new fences to ensure that the hatchlings are not attacked,” he said.
In September last year, 15 baby turtles had their heads bitten off by what was believed to be a palm civet.
Mohd Rafi said the incident occurred because the eggs had hatched earlier than expected when no one was stationed there that night.
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