Aziz Mustaffa says he now feels like the turtles' godparent. FMTNews Turtles
Aziz Mustaffa used to collect turtles’ eggs from a Malaysian beach and sell them but nowadays, he makes a living as a ranger protecting the creatures’ nesting sites.
Several species, including Green turtles, Hawksbills and Leatherbacks, nest on Malaysia’s coasts, where the spectacle of babies hatching and scurrying into the sea has long been a major tourist draw. Conservationists have however been making progress. As well as persuading some people like Aziz to change their ways, Terengganu, a major nesting site, has announced it will ban the trade in eggs.“I feel I am their godparent and I want to protect them for future generations. It gives me joy to see the huge turtles returning here to nest.”
Humans, however, are not the only threat – monitor lizards eat their eggs, while many are gobbled up by sharks and predatory fish as soon as they make it into the waters. “Villagers on Redang Island now enjoy a stable income from tourism as a growing number of people want to watch the Green turtles lay eggs,” he said.Mohamad Uzair Rusli, a biologist, agreed that giving locals a way to earn money from looking after the creatures was the best fashion to safeguard their future.
Licensed collectors are still allowed to operate in Terengganu, and the sale of most eggs remains legal.
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