Distressed green turtle on PD beach saved by members of the public

SEREMBAN: Fishermen here helped to rescue a female green turtle, estimated to be about 20 years old, which was found in distress on the beach at Pantai Tanjung Gemok, Port Dickson, near here, by releasing it back into the sea on Sunday (Jan 30).

Hishamudin Abd Manap, the manager of the Turtle Hatchery at Glory Beach Resort, said the 35kg reptile was discovered by fishermen on the beach at about 11am.

"I was on the beach when the fishermen told me about turtle, which was already weak, probably because it was on land for too long.

"I immediately contacted the Negri Sembilan Fisheries Department (JPNS) and they asked me to release it back into the sea, so we released it at about noon," he told Bernama here Sunday.

Meanwhile, JPNS fisheries officer Doreen Wee Siew Leen said turtles sometimes landed on the beach to lay eggs, especially during the spawning season from February to October.

She thanked the public for contacting the relevant authorities promptly to help save and preserve the animal.

She said two turtle carcasses had been found on the beach at Port Dickson so far this year, and advised the public to report to JPNS or the Port Dickson Ornamental Fish Centre at 06-662 1089 immediately, should they find any turtle, dead or alive, on the beach.

According to her, JPNS has conducted conservation programmes for various agencies to protect the turtles. - Bernama