THE STAR (Petaling Jaya, Malaysia) 20 June 06 State funding for river terrapin project (K. Suthakar)
Dungun: The in-situ river terrapin conservation project at Kampung Pasir Kumpal and Kampung Pasir Tok Chu in Dungun has received a boost from the Terengganu government.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh has promised to provide an allocation for the project undertaken by Kolej Universiti Sains dan Teknologi Malaysia (Kustem) and the Wildlife and National Parks Department since early this year.
Idris asked turtle scientist Prof Chan Eng Heng of Kustem to submit a written request for the funding.
“We will definitely give a helping hand to save the critically endangered species,” he told newsmen after inspecting the river terrapins’ nesting sites at the two villages last Tuesday.
He was briefed on the project by state department director Rozidan Md Yasin and Prof Chan.
Prof Chan said she would request about RM100,000 to set up a research station in Kampung Pasir Kumpal and hire additional staff.
“There is also a need to improve the condition of the access road to the village,” she said.
Prof Chan said the population of river terrapins in Sungai Dungun was believed to be the second highest in the state after Sungai Terengganu.
But, she said there had been no conservation programmes in Sungai Dungun since 2000.
In her briefing, Prof Chan said that 33 nests containing 419 eggs were found in Kampung Pasir Kumpal from Jan 28 to March 19.
In neighbouring Kampung Pasir Tok Chu, 11 nests containing 145 eggs were found from Feb 8 to March 1.
Prof Chan expressed concern that fishermen were using lights when fishing in the river at nights.
This, she said, would scare away the terrapins from nesting at their usual spots along the riverbank. The nesting season is from January to April.
Among those present during the visit were department director-general Datuk Musa Nordin, state executive councillors Datuk Rosol Wahid and Din Adam, and Dungun MP Datuk Rosli Mat Hassan.
State funding for river terrapin project