KUALA TERENGGANU: The carcasses of three male loggerhead turtles have been found on Chakar Forest beach, Kerteh, Kemaman by the Marine Conservation and Research Association Malaysia (Pulihara) within 31 hours.
Pulihara field assistant Amira Hasanah Azaman said she and her team found the first turtle carcass at 12.50an on Friday (March 14) while patrolling the nesting turtles there.
"Then, at 8.56pm the same night, we found a second carcass and a third at 7.20am on Saturday (March 15).
"They were all found within a 500m diameter," she said on Saturday.
She said the first and second turtles, measuring 91.8cm and 85.3cm respectively are sub-adults, while third was an adult measuring 97cm.
She said an examination revealed that the first and second turtles died between one and two days ago while the third turtle had been dead for a week as its skin had come off.
"The cause of death of the first two turtles cannot be ascertained because they are bloated.
"The third one was likely caught in a stingray net as there are marks on its shell and neck.
"We suspect this was done by irresponsible parties trying to remove the turtle from the net," he said.
According to the Fisheries Department, using stingray nets is an offence under the Fisheries (Prohibition of Fishing) Regulations 1980 and offenders can be prosecuted in court.
Amira Hasanah said Pulihara reported the discovery to the Turtle Conservation and Information Centre and would bury the three carcasses.
This is the first discovery of three turtle carcasses by Pulihara this year.
The turtle-landing season has just begun due to the Northeast Monsoon, which is currently in its resting phase. – Bernama
