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Sea Turtle Conservation, Research & Outreach Program
at Chagar Hutang, Redang Island
Juanita Joseph & Liew Hock Chark
Institute of Oceanography & Environment
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu
UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA TERENGGANU
The General
Layout of
Redang Island
Turtle Sanctuaries Chagar Hutang,
SEATRU Project Site
Mak Kepit
Mak Simpan
Holiday
resorts
Redang Island: Serve as nesting grounds
Mating areas
Foraging ground
View of Chagar Hutang. Beach is only 350 m long.
Chagar Hutang
Project Site of SEATRU
(1993 – present)
Female’s
Hut Kitchen
Kitchen
Men’s Hut
SEATRU
Research Station:
1993 -2005
SEATRU RESEARCH STATION: 2006 – Present
(No mobile coverage; equipped with solar-powered lights)
CONSERVATION RESEARCH OUTREACH
Long-term sea turtle
monitoring, tagging and
in-situ egg incubation
(1993 – present)
7,206 nests were
protected
>450,000 hatchlings
produced
Tagging &
Monitoring Sea Turtle
Population
Genetics study
Satellite tracking
Photo- ID
RFID
Volunteer Program
(April – October; since 1998)
Nest/Turtle Adoption
(throughout the year; RM100
per adoption)
Turtle Camps (for the
school kids at Redang; since
1996)
School visits. Local &
International schools
Exhibitions & Talks
Long-term Sea Turtle
Research & Conservation at
Chagar Hutang, Redang
Island
1
2
3
4
6 5
In situ Egg Incubation in Chagar Hutang
Beach, Pulau Redang
History: • 1993 – 2004: Purchase nests from licensed egg
collectors (RM120 & RM150 per nest); Total spent = RM500,000.00
Nest protected = 57 – 90% (mean: 78%)
• Major sponsors (1993-1997): Berjaya Redang Resort, State Government, UDA holdings
• 2005: Gazette as sanctuary; total protection of nesting beach
Nest Protected by SEATRU: 1993 -2011
No of turtles tagged: 1094 green turtles; 29 hawksbill turtles
Hatchlings produced: > 450,000
In 2001: The conservation program at Chagar Hutang was
recognised by UNEP
Is the Redang population increasing?
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 20102011
Total Number of Nesting at Redang Island
CONSERVATION RESEARCH OUTREACH
Long-term sea turtle
monitoring, tagging and
in-situ egg incubation
(1993 – present)
7,206 nests were
protected
>450,000 hatchlings
produced
Tagging &
Monitoring Sea Turtle
Population
Genetics study
Satellite tracking
Photo- ID
RFID
Volunteer Program
(April – October; since 1998)
Nest/Turtle Adoption
(throughout the year; RM100
per adoption)
Turtle Camps (for the
school kids at Redang; since
1996)
School visits. Local &
International schools
Exhibitions & Talks
http://seatru.umt.edu.my
SeaTurtle Outreach Program: Objectives:
i. For public awareness
ii. To fund the long-term conservation
program at Chagar Hutang
Outreach programs:
Volunteer Program
Nest/Turtle Adoption
Turtle camps, talks, exhibitions
Open to public (age 18+)
Program developed to provide volunteer assistance to the long-term conservation and research at Chagar Hutang
Duration: 1 week for a group of 8 volunteers
Local participants: 90%
International participants: 10%
80 % were College/University
Students
Ferry transfer sponsored by
Laguna: 2004 - present
Volunteer Program: to create public awareness on sea turtles
Turtle Camps
Conducted since 1996
for the Year 5 students of
Redang Island
Co-sponsored by:
Berjaya Redang Beach
Resort
Laguna Redang Island
Resort
INCOMS, UMT
Talks and Exhibitions
Turtle Awareness Program
at resorts in Redang Island
Problems of Sea Turtle Conservation in Redang
Selling of sea turtle
eggs in Terengganu
Dead sea turtles found at Redang
Island
Cause of injury: Boat strike
Challenges??
• Database for sea turtle nesting in Malaysia
• Database for stranded sea turtles
• Turtle Rescue Team
• Turtle Hospital
THANK YOU!
