Tracking turtle migration
KEMAMAN, Aug 20:
Turtle conservation in Malaysia goes hi-tech with the installation of transmitters on the carapace of two Green turtles to track their migration.
The signals will be captured by a satellite of the American National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with the data plotted by its ground station in France.
The objective of the research is to track the migration pattern of the Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) when they leave their nesting site at the Ma'daerah Turtle Sanctuary in Kerteh.
Each time the turtle surfaces, the signal will be picked up which will help determine its location and provide clues to its feeding ground. The tracking will last until the transmitter battery expires in six months.
"We have succeeded in hatching turtles as well as gazetting nine sanctuaries in our conservation efforts since 1961.
"But we do not know what happens after the turtles leave the nesting grounds," said Turtle and Marine Ecosystem Centre (Tumec) director Dr Kamaruddin Ibrahim.
He was speaking after the release of the two turtles from the Madaerah turtle sanctuary today.
Satellite tracking will complement Tumecs conservation efforts. Once new feeding grounds are located, it could recommend to the Government to declare the areas off-limits to fishing.
"We can also alert other nations and urge them to introduce measures to protect it if the feeding grounds are found in their territories," said Dr Kamaruddin.
Green turtle landings have recorded a drop from 300 in 2004 to 100 this year. More worrying is that only one leatherback turtle landing was recorded this year compared with five last year.
State Agriculture and Regional Development Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jidin Shafiee said satellite tracking of turtles was an expensive undertaking "but it had to be done to protect a national heritage".
The transmitters and tracking service cost a total of RM15,000 for each turtle. Jidin said the transmitters and tracking costs were borne by Vodafone of Britain.
KEMAMAN, Aug 20:
Turtle conservation in Malaysia goes hi-tech with the installation of transmitters on the carapace of two Green turtles to track their migration.
The signals will be captured by a satellite of the American National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with the data plotted by its ground station in France.
The objective of the research is to track the migration pattern of the Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) when they leave their nesting site at the Ma'daerah Turtle Sanctuary in Kerteh.
Each time the turtle surfaces, the signal will be picked up which will help determine its location and provide clues to its feeding ground. The tracking will last until the transmitter battery expires in six months.
"We have succeeded in hatching turtles as well as gazetting nine sanctuaries in our conservation efforts since 1961.
"But we do not know what happens after the turtles leave the nesting grounds," said Turtle and Marine Ecosystem Centre (Tumec) director Dr Kamaruddin Ibrahim.
He was speaking after the release of the two turtles from the Madaerah turtle sanctuary today.
Satellite tracking will complement Tumecs conservation efforts. Once new feeding grounds are located, it could recommend to the Government to declare the areas off-limits to fishing.
"We can also alert other nations and urge them to introduce measures to protect it if the feeding grounds are found in their territories," said Dr Kamaruddin.
Green turtle landings have recorded a drop from 300 in 2004 to 100 this year. More worrying is that only one leatherback turtle landing was recorded this year compared with five last year.
State Agriculture and Regional Development Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jidin Shafiee said satellite tracking of turtles was an expensive undertaking "but it had to be done to protect a national heritage".
The transmitters and tracking service cost a total of RM15,000 for each turtle. Jidin said the transmitters and tracking costs were borne by Vodafone of Britain.
