GEORGE TOWN: A female olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) was released back into Penang waters Monday (Nov 17) after undergoing a year-long rehabilitation following severe injuries to its front right flipper caused by entanglement in a fishing net.
The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry said the 15-year-old turtle was rescued by local fishermen in the waters off Tanjung Tokong and handed over to the Pantai Kerachut Turtle Conservation Centre for treatment and recovery.
"The rehabilitation process was supported by centre staff, the Penang Fisheries Department and FRI Rantau Abang, while the release was officiated by ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Isham Jalil,” it said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Fisheries director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain said the release marked the success of conservation efforts and the department’s continued commitment to ensuring the sustainability of the olive ridley turtle species in Malaysia.
He said that a total of 15,485 hatchlings had been successfully released from 2021 to date.
"This conservation activity has also drawn visitor interest, with the centre in Pantai Kerachut receiving 36,353 visitors up to October, comprising 24,392 domestic and 11,961 international visitors,” he said.
He added that the conservation centre had also carried out various educational briefings, public awareness programmes and volunteer activities from January to October. – Bernama
