Originally published August 9 2005
Turtles disappear from nesting spots
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
This year in Malaysia, endangered turtles have not been seen in their nesting spots, and many conservationists fear that they may not return.
The alarming development has raised fears that the turtles may be lost forever from the beaches, a big draw for tourists who come to watch the egg-laying as well as the emergence of scores of hatchlings.
So far only one leatherback turtle -- the most endangered of Malaysia's turtles -- has been sighted and that was early Wednesday, said Turtle and Marine Ecosystem Centre director Kamarruddin Ibrahim.
And for the first time in history, neither of the other important species -- Olive Ridley and hawksbill turtles -- have landed at the traditional nesting sites in the northeast state of Terengganu, he told AFP this week.
Kamarruddin said there was also a drop in the number of green turtle landings, with only 1,500 nestings this year compared to 3,086 last year.
"There is definitely a declining pattern of nesting for the leatherbacks, from as many as 800 nests in 1984 and only five last year," he said.
However Kamarruddin said he was hopeful that more egg-laden turtles would arrive before the end of the nesting season in September, as one female is able to nest up to 10 times a year.
Conservationists have warned of a steady decline in turtle landings in Terengganu.
Only about one out of 1,000 turtles released is believed to survive.
Turtles are also killed by getting entangled in fishing nets in the open seas, hunted for their meat or sacrificed in religious rituals in neighboring countries, he said.
Hotels and bright lights near the beachfront caused turtles to shy away in the early days, with thousands of tourists camping on the beach, building bonfires and even riding on the turtles' backs.
Eggs were also sold or eaten as a traditional source of protein for locals.
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