Turtle Species in Malaysia
There are 20 species of tortoises and freshwater turtles in Malaysia and unfortunately almost all are in danger of extinction.
At Sipadan, you will often see Green Turtles. On rare occasions, you might bump into the Hawksbill Turtle. These gentle giant creatures are so clumsy on land but yet so graceful under water.
A “coins in education” of “endangered” animals in Malaysia was issued in 2006. The following write up introduces you to 5 turtles that are at risk.
by Dennis G Rainey
A third series of 12 “coins in education” of “endangered” animals in Malaysia was issued in 2006 with a marine theme. The first series dealt with terrestrial mammals, the second with birds and this third series deals with one shark, five turtles, three crocodilians and three marine mammals. This first part will deal with the turtles.
There are 20 species of tortoises and freshwater turtles in Malaysia, three critically endangered, seven endangered, seven vulnerable, two lower risk and one not listed by IUCN. A great threat currently exists in Southeast Asia for tortoises and freshwater turtles that are being exploited for trade as they are sold for food, traditional medicines, pets and ornaments. The biggest buyer by far is China. Based on recent data, at least 13,000 metric tons (14,330 tons) of live turtles are exported from Southeast Asia to China annually. In 2005, 25 metric tons (27.56 tons) were exported from Sumatra to China every week! The flesh is eaten, and the plastrons (lower shell) and carapaces (upper shell) go to medicines. (Information from the Wildlife Conservation Society, SE Asian Turtle Program.)
In 2001, 7,500 fresh water turtles were seized in Hong Kong stacked in crates without food and water bound for China. Animals at the bottom of crates had crushed shells from the weight of other turtles. These were transferred to the United States and accepted for rehabilitation by the Turtle Survival Alliance. Later three shipments of 1,144 arrived in Miami, and then a fourth shipment of 2,058 arrived in Miami. Sadly, most came from Malaysia. Of the 12 species in the shipments, three Malaysian species are listed as endangered and one as vulnerable. China’s voracious appetite for turtles has almost eradicated its turtle fauna. (Source: National Geographic News).
The five Malaysia chelonian coins are: painted terrapin (Callagur borneoensis), KM 112, critically endangered; leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), KM 102, critically endangered; hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), KM 104, critically endangered; olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), KM 101, endangered; and green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), KM 103, endangered.
Painted Terrapin
The Malaysian name for the painted terrapin turtle is “Tuntung Laut.” Most references regard this turtle as a freshwater species, but because it nests on sea beaches along with sea turtles it has been called an estuarine terrapin or sea terrapin by some. It is a large hard-shelled turtle with the length of the carapace 20 inches in females and 16 inches in males. In breeding season the heads of males turn white with a red stripe on the forehead between the eyes. The species occurs from southern Thailand (almost extinct) to Borneo, Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia with an estimate of just a few thousand in Malaysia. They were so abundant in the 19th century that people had turtle egg fights at festivals. The species has been exploited internationally for food, pet trade and locally for consumption of eggs. Habitat loss, drowning in fish nets and pollution are also contributing to its decline. International trade (Malaysia and Thailand) in the period 1994 to 2003 was recorded at almost 16,000 animals; just under 15,000 of these were shipped alive to China in 2000 and 2001. Malaysia set quotas of 1,000 for 2002, 600 for 2003, 300 for 2004, and zero for 2005 and 2006.
In non-breeding season they are found in estuaries of medium to large rivers in Peninsular Malaysia and in mangrove swamps in Sarawak. They lack a salt secreting gland (present in sea turtles) and cannot tolerate brackish water in excess of 50 percent salt water for extended periods.
Nesting occurs on sea beaches in June to August in eastern Peninsular Malaysia, and from October to January on the west coast. Eggs (17 to 37) are laid in sandy beaches and take 75 to 100 days to hatch.
Diet consists of fruits and green vegetation (river grass) from riversides and mangroves.
Populations have declined seriously throughout Peninsular Malaysia, the main exporter of this species, and the species face extinction. Here they have been recorded from 14 rivers, but only three rivers have more than 100 individuals. They are found in Sarawak but not in Sabah on Borneo.
There are a few programs for artificially incubated eggs and release, and one of the biggest is Bota Kanan Tantung (turtle) Centre in the State of Perak on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
Leatherback Sea Turtle
The Malaysian name for the leatherback is “Penyu Belimbing.” This turtle holds the honor of being the second heaviest reptile in the world, reaching a known weight of 2,019 pounds (estuarine crocodile is the heaviest). Its carapace length reaches 8.4 feet. (Source: A publication on crocodiles and turtles of Borneo by the University of Malaysia, Sarawak.) It is the only sea turtle that lacks a hard shell. Thousands of tiny bony plates are covered with a layer of tough rubbery skin. It is found widely in both cold and warm seas, and in Malaysia it nests mostly on mainland beaches in the state of Terengganu (east coast) and especially along 9.3 miles of beach at Rantau Abang where there is a turtle sanctuary. This is one of only six places in the world where this species nests.
Its food consists almost entirely of jellyfish, and sometimes it dives up to 4,000 feet deep in search of food. Egg clutches consist of 90 to 130 eggs laid at intervals of two to three years. Leatherbacks have steadily declined at Rantau Abang with only 2 percent coming there to nest now compared to 50 years ago. One reason for this is the number of humans coming to observe nesting and building bonfires and using bright lights. Egg poachers also are a problem with sale in local markets not rare. Furthermore, leatherbacks eat floating plastic bags thinking they are jellyfish. They (and other sea turtles) get tangled in fishing nets and drown. Shrimp trawlers are thought to be responsible for more sea turtle deaths than any other source.
Hawksbill Sea Turtle
The Malaysian name for the hawksbill sea turtle is “Penyu Karah.” The hawksbill is a small sea turtle with a carapace length reaching 35 inches and weight of 200 pounds. It prefers warm seas and stays close to shore in lagoons and estuaries. It eats sponges and other coral reef animals such as shrimp and squid. They are endangered chiefly because humans want their shells, the source of “tortoiseshell” used for jewelry, combs, trinkets, etc. In Malaysia they nest on shores of Terengganu, Johor, Melaka states, Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo.
Olive Ridley Sea Turtle
The Malaysian name for the olive ridley sea turtle is “Penyu Lipas.” This is the smallest sea turtle with an olive colored carapace with length up to 28 inches and weight up to 132 pounds. It occurs in tropical oceans worldwide. Its food is jellyfish, some small fish, sea grass and crustaceans. The largest nesting sites are in Mexico, Costa Rica and Orissa coast of India.
They are noted for mass nestings where several thousands (up to 150,000) nest on one beach. This remarkable event is called an “arribada,” which is Spanish for “mass arrival.” However, apparently this does not occur in Malaysia where records are not abundant and occur only in three peninsular states; a few records of nesting are on Sabah and Sarawak.
In the 1960s on the Mexican Pacific coast more than one million were killed each year. Thousands of eggs are poached in Central and South America. There are conservation efforts in Mexico and arribadas have returned to India.
Green Turtle
The Malaysian name of the green turtle is “Penyu Lipas.” The green turtle is widespread in tropical regions particularly around oceanic islands and prefer wide, sandy beaches for nesting. Its carapace length is up to 43 inches and it weighs up to 397 pounds. The green turtle is the most common and most widely distributed sea turtle in Malaysia. In Peninsular Malaysia it nests on several islands and on beaches of three states. They also nest on beaches of Sarawak Turtle Islands, the Turtle Islands of Sabah and Sipadan Island. Food of the green turtle is mainly sea grass and seaweeds (adults).
Source: Numis Master