KOTA KINABALU: A new sea turtle conservation project has been launched in Semporna through a partnership between the Sabah Wildlife Department, WWF-Malaysia and Mataking Reef Resort.
The project focuses on protecting the critically endangered Hawksbill turtle, which is found in Sabah’s waters, through DNA analysis and real-time satellite tracking.
A global DNA database called ShellBank can trace turtles back to their original population, which also helps fight illegal trade and improve conservation planning, according to a joint statement issued here on Friday (May 8).
The partnership strengthens collaboration, integrates science into conservation, and boosts enforcement against poaching and illegal trade, the statement read.
Satellite tracking devices would be used to follow turtles on migration routes to track their movement and feeding areas, yielding data that will help identify important habitats to protect.
Through the project, scientists and enforcement agencies will have stronger tools to safeguard turtles across Sabah and the region.
Sabah Wildlife Department director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar said the project was the first of its kind in the region.
"We are proud to lead this first-of-its-kind initiative in the region. Protecting Hawksbill turtles is part of safeguarding our national heritage," he said.
WWF-Malaysia senior director Tay Mooi Geok hoped that the project will provide a look at where Hawksbill turtles go after nesting, thereby helping in conservation efforts.
"For years, we didn’t know where the turtles go after nesting. Soon, we’ll have the answers to help conserve them better," Tay added.
According the to the statement, the project supports the Blue Corridors for Turtles initiative, which maps turtle movements between nesting beaches, feeding grounds and migration routes.
The aim is to create important marine turtle areas for long-term protection.
Between 2009 and last year, over 460 Hawksbill nests were recorded on Mataking Island, including 119 nests last year alone.
