- KUALA LUMPUR -- Several species
of sea turtles in Malaysia could vanish in a few years, largely because
of poaching of the creatures and their eggs, scientists warned Wednesday.
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- At least three turtle populations ñ the leatherback,
the olive ridley and the hawksbill ñ "are on the brink of collapse,
which could lead to a biodiversity crisis" in the Southeast Asian
nation, international turtle scientists said in a statement after a conference
on conservation efforts.
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- The sea turtles also nest in other countries, but scientists
at the conference focused on the situation in Malaysia, where the sea turtle
population had been virtually unchanged for more than 100 million years.
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- In recent years, however, human activity, including shoreline
development, fishing, pollution and the taking of eggs ñ considered
an aphrodisiac in some parts of Asia ñ has increasingly threatened
the creatures.
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- "Many populations (in Malaysia) are in danger of
extinction and could be gone in a few years if there is no urgent and effective
action," the conference statement said.
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- The number of leatherback nests in the northeastern Terengganu
state, where most of the turtles visit, has fallen from more than 10,000
a few decades ago to fewer than 10 in recent years, it added.
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- The scientists called on Malaysian authorities to establish
more nesting sites as sanctuaries, improve environmental protection laws
and provide alternative income sources for people who harvest turtle eggs
for sale.
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- The Malaysian-based WorldFish Centre and the Malaysian
chapter of the Worldwide Fund for Nature organized the conference.
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