Photo courtesy of Turtle Conservation Society
PETALING JAYA: Fish traps, whether active or discarded ones, are posing a threat to Terengganu's river terrapin population, in particular the Southern River Terrapin (Batagur affinis), says the Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (TCS).
TCS co-founder and executive director Dr Chen Pelf Nyok said the latest finding was on Sunday (Aug 24), where a subadult terrapin, estimated to be around 12 to 15 years old, was found in a fish trap in Sungai Kemaman by a local fisherman.
"Our team was alerted by a local fisherman to what appeared to be a terrapin carcass floating in the Kemaman River. Our Terrapin Guardians, led by field manager Dylan Wang, immediately responded and retrieved the carcass.
"The subadult river terrapin, measuring 37cm in length and 29cm in width, was found with a fishing hook lodged in its mouth," said Chen, who added that the same river survey also found three sets of fishing gear, each equipped with hooks and weighted down with bricks.
"Any aquatic animal caught on these hooks would never have had the chance to surface for air, resulting in a slow and unnecessary death," said Chen, who added that the traps were then removed.
“We conduct routine river surveys to remove discarded fishing gear. However, it is clear that our routine efforts are not enough to prevent these unnecessary fatalities,” said Chen.
She revealed that on Aug 6, another fisherman from Kg Seberang Tayur found an adult river terrapin with a hook similarly lodged in its mouth.
"Due to the swift action of our team, the hook was removed and the terrapin was sent for treatment and observation," she said.
Conservationists argue that these repeated incidents highlight a credible threat to the critically endangered species.
Founded in 2011, TCS is the first Malaysian non-governmental and not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation of freshwater turtles.
"TCS strongly urges the relevant authorities to take immediate action to regulate harmful fishing practices in rivers known to be terrapin habitats. Without stronger enforcement and preventive measures, these needless deaths will continue to undermine decades of conservation work, and push this species closer to extinction," she said.
Based in Kemaman, Terengganu, TCS (www.
