T’ganu tapping into tuntung edutourism

KEMAMAN, Aug 18 – The Terengganu state government is committed to promoting the Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (TCS) community-based tuntung (terrapin) protection project at Kampung Pasir Gajah for edutourism.

State Tourism, Culture and Information Technology Committee chairman, Ariffin Deraman, said that what makes it extra special is that the threatened species is only found here, in Kedah and Perak.

“The terrapins need to be protected from becoming extinct. I am confident that the conservation work started at the kampung since 2011 will attract tourists with its uniqueness.

 “We will continue supporting the efforts of the TCS to protect the terrapins for the sake of future generations.

“Most important is community participation, which determines the success of the programme, as well as the involvement of government agencies and departments to turn Kampung Pasir Gajah into a new Terengganu tourism destination,” said Ariffin, who recently donated RM10,000 to TCS.

TCS co-founder, Dr Chen Pelf Nyok, said that aside from conducting research, the non-governmental organisation also has educational programmes and uses community empowerment to ensure the success of the terrapin project.

“Since 2011, 5,260 eggs have been incubated, over 3,500 terrapins were hatched and 3,200 released in Sungai Kemaman.

“If in the past only adult terrapins were spotted in the river, now locals can find small and juvenile terrapins, too, proving the success of the conservation programme,” she said.

She said that aside from the terrapin release programme, visitors can also head to the Galeri Tuntung started in 2017 with the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan).

“The gallery was a Kampung Pasir Gajah community hall storeroom before, and till today, it is the only terrapin gallery in Malaysia receiving over 2,000 visitors since it opened,” Dr Chen said of the terrapin, turtle, tortoise and softshell turtle mini museum cum one-stop resource centre for students.

-- BERNAMA