September-October , 2020 | @ Forest

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By Khirtini K Kumaran

Unit ( SEATRU ) Lab at The Taaras Beach & Spa Resort ( The Taaras ) was launched in 2018 to provide sea turtle conservation and to educate guests on the plight of the sea turtle .

The lab is managed by The Taaras ' very own marine biologist who works with a team of SEATRU scientists and trained research assistants from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu ( UMT ).

Turtle Lab

Outreach Coordinator from UMT , Tuan Emilia Tuan Mohd Noor , explained the establishment of Turtle Lab was part of the collaboration between UMT and Berjaya Hotels and Resorts .

According to Tuan Emilia , the Turtle Lab in the resort has helped with the survival rates of the turtle eggs and hatchlings

“ Berjaya Hotels & Resorts provided a permanent lab in The Taaras as it was the nearest to the turtle sanctuary , which takes about 15 minutes ,” said Tuan Emilia .

“ Previously , we had to transport the turtle eggs from the sanctuary back to UMT , which is a two-hour journey . This affected the hatching success rate .”

However , since the Turtle Lab was launched , they had an over 90 per cent hatching success rate .

She added : “ So far , we have released over 3,000 turtle hatchlings .”

Turtle Research and Conservation Efforts

Tuan Emilia said : “ On behalf of UMT , we are very grateful for this lab as it has helped immensely , not just with the hatching success , but also with our research as well .”

Among the research carried out at the Turtle Lab are turtle hatchling ’ s digging performance based on the sand type and also their swimming performance .

Tuan Emilia is working on identifying when the baby turtle hatchling would start actively digging .

“ Based on our previous research , we have identified that the turtle hatchling comes out faster from coarse sand compared to fine sand . We now would like to know when they would actively start digging , during the night or day ,” she explained .

She also shared that one of the researchers found that if the current rate of turtle egg consumption is continued , turtles will be extinct by 2050 .

“ We are discussing with the Department of Fisheries ( DOF ) to ban the commercialisation of turtle egg consumption .”

Guest Experience

“ It a win-win situation for both SEATRU and The Taaras , as the guests can participate in the turtle hatchling release and we can teach and create awareness amongst the guests ,” said Tuan Emilia .

Initially , guests did not release the turtle hatchling . But , upon receiving permission from the DOF , guests are now allowed to participate .

Guests who wish to release the turtle hatchlings are required to donate a minimum of RM50 .

“ Most guests , however , would generously donate more than RM50 ,” Tuan Emilia shared , adding that the donations have amounted over RM70 , 000 , which helps to sustain their conservation efforts .

According to marine biologist Tay Yu Peng , the Turtle Lab is one of the main attractions of the resort .

“ It is sporadic to see guests come to study and learn about turtles and conservation efforts during their vacation , but here they are eager to learn and participate .

“ Guests will be guided through the sea turtle life cycle from nesting and hatching through to species identification , measuring and tagging sea turtles , and understanding natural predators ,” explained Tay .

Guests may visit the marine conservation counter , which is connected to the Turtle Lab , to learn more about sea turtles and marine life .

Guests may not enter the Turtle Lab , but they can view the research works

Turtle Hatchlings . and the turtle hatchlings from outside . “ The Turtle Lab won an award last year as it is the first public viewing lab in Malaysia ,” shared Tuan Emilia .

Tuan Emilia Tuan Mohd Noor , Outreach Coordinator , UMT .

Tay Yu Peng , Marine Biologist , Taaras .

Artificial Reef

Apart from turtle conservation , Tay shared that The Taaras also undertakes the artificial reef conservation project .

“ Due to the coral bleaching problem , many of the coral reefs die and rarely comes back as it struggles to reproduce . This affects the entire reef ecosystem ,” he explained .

“ Therefore , at The Taaras , we have coral nurseries , which we grow new coral colonies from naturally broken tiny fragments of corals . Once they have grown back into mature colony size , we will transfer them to the artificial reef structures .”

According to Tay , so far , the rehabilitation of artificial reefs shows promising results and the corals are thriving . The artificial reefs are situated underwater , 200 metres from The Taaras beachfront . Guests may also adopt a coral at only RM40 per biscuit , which also helps rehabilitate coral reefs in Redang Island . — @ Forest

Guests of The Taaras participating in the Turtle Hatchling release .