Penyu kembali ke pantai Kelantan selepas 30 tahun ‘menghilang’

Kota Bharu, Malaysia - After a 30-year absence, sea turtles have returned to the beaches of Kelantan, according to the Kelantan Fisheries Department. On Sunday, several baby sea turtles were found on the beach at Pasir Puteh by locals, prompting immediate notification to the MyKomuniti Fisheries (MyKP) branch, which then reported the finding to the Kelantan Fisheries Department for further action and monitoring.

Kelantan Fisheries Department Director Ismail Ibrahim stated that the rescued baby turtles, totaling 156 in number, will be released back into the ocean for conservation purposes. The director emphasized that it has been a long time since the last recorded sea turtle landing in Kelantan waters, and the reappearance of baby turtles is a very positive sign for our marine ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Agriculture, Agro-industry and Commodities Deputy Menteri Tuan Mohd Saripudin Tuan Ismail noted that Pantai Pachakan, Semerak, and Tok Bali in Pasir Puteh could potentially serve as breeding grounds for sea turtles, following the discovery of baby turtles and eggs in that area. Tuan Mohd Saripudin commented that the existence of living sea turtles in Redang Island previously also indicates the possibility of a similar scenario occurring at Pantai Pachakan, Semerak, and Pasir Puteh.

He stressed the importance of taking action to prevent the extinction of this species, including awareness campaigns to ensure the continued preservation of sea turtle habitats. With proper planning, he expressed confidence that Pantai Pachakan and Tok Bali could once again become breeding grounds for sea turtles.