Melaka to protect hawksbill turtle landing site in Padang Kemunting

The state government has proposed gazetting about one kilometre of the beach in Padang Kemunting, Pengkalan Balak near here as hawksbill turtle landing site to ensure its habitat is not threatened.

State education, higher education, science and technology, green technology and innovation committee deputy chairman Datuk Md Rawi Mahmud said the initiative was taken in the effort to ensure the endangered animal would continue to survive.

"In this regard, nocturnal human activities should be limited as the turtles are sensitive to light, while creating greater public awareness on the importance of conserving the turtles.

"Apart from that, we can collect turtle eggs to hatch them before releasing the baby turtles into the sea, thus helping to protect the marine ecosystem and ensure their survival," he told reporters here Monday.

Earlier, he opened a Rangers Appreciation Day programme at the Turtle Conservation and Information Centre in Padang Kemunting here which was also attended by Melaka Fisheries Department director Mohd Ghazali A Manap.

At the ceremony, eight rangers from the state fisheries department received certificates of appreciation in recognition of their contributions, especially against turtle egg poachers.

Md Rawi said the hawksbill turtles which landed at the Melaka beach needed protection as they were an important treasure to the environment, apart from helping to improve the economy of the local community.

"We do not want what happened to Rantau Abang, Terengganu to take place in Melaka as the hawksbill turtle is a critically endangered species.

"Gazetting the area will ensure the area continued to be a hawksbill turtle habitat with minimal development activities," he added. -- Bernama