Green turtle
survives plastic waste ordeal
24 Sep 2019
GEORGE TOWN: If you think the dangers of plastic waste
at sea are exaggerated, read this story about a small, disabled green turtle
named Sidewinder.
In 2015, fishermen found the three-year-old turtle
injured at sea, with its carapace struck by a boat propeller at the rear.
They brought it to the Penang Turtle Sanctuary in
Pantai Kerachut and sanctuary rangers nursed it back to health.
Then suddenly, said state fisheries director Noraisyah
Abu Bakar, Sidewinder stopped eating.
Eventually, they pulled out two plastic bags and 10
straws from its anus, as Sidewinder had thought these were food and was
experiencing constipation.
“Sidewinder immediately began defecating and eating
again. We must stop plastic waste ending up at sea all together.
“Its danger to turtles is very real and Sidewinder is
the living proof, ” said Noraisyah.
The sad part about Sidewinder is that when the boat
propeller struck its carapace, it left a permanent slash that acts like a fixed
rudder, resulting in Sidewinder always swimming in circles now.
Twice, the rangers tried to release it back into the
wild but to no avail.
The first time, a fisherman rescued it when it was
seen struggling on the surface.
On the second time, a tourist found the hungry and
exhausted turtle at the meromictic lake of Pantai Kerachut.
Sidewinder is now a permanent resident of the
sanctuary.
The public can visit Sidewinder at the sanctuary,
which is open daily from 10am to 4pm.
Noraisyah revealed Sidewinder’s story while visiting
another turtle at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Aquarium in Batu Maung yesterday.
This one is the 60kg female loggerhead turtle that
fishermen rescued near Pulau Kendi on Sept 7 after it got snared in an
abandoned trawler’s net.
The three fishermen – Ang Ta Lin, 46, Lee Boon Hin,
40, and Chan Zhi Sheng, 18 – were taken to the aquarium by Noraisyah to visit
the turtle.
“She ate 15 kembong fish for breakfast before we
arrived. She’s doing well now and once we are sure she is in good health, we
will release her, so that she can continue on her journey, ” said Noraisyah.
Ang, the team’s skipper, glowed with pride to see the
turtle swimming actively in the quarantine tank and even responding curiously
when people peered down at it.
“She was so exhausted when we brought her onto our
boat that she didn’t move at all. We were sure she was going to die.
“We feel so happy we rescued her, ” he said.
Also present was environmental activist Khoo Salma
Nasution and Teluk Kumbar Fishermen’s Association chairman Roslizan Ramli.
Khoo Salma had shared photos and videos of the rescue
on social media. They were viewed over 30,000 times and triggered a worldwide
discussion among herpetologists (reptile experts).
“Loggerheads are not native to Malaysia and this one
must have travelled thousands of kilometres.
“We know that Pulau Kendi is a feeding ground for
turtles and fishermen have told us that they even spotted massive leatherback
turtles there.
“We want the government to make sure the environment
around Pulau Kendi is always protected, ” she said, urging the government to
reconsider reclamation plans off the south of Penang island if it threatens
Pulau Kendi.
Herpetologist Dr Sarahaizad Mohd Salleh, who was
present, said she believed this loggerhead turtle came from either Japan or
Australia, where they are commonly found.
Anyone who finds a turtle – dead or alive – or turtle
eggs are required to call the government’s FishCom hotline (03-8870 4058) or
the Penang Fisheries Department (04-657 2777).
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