VOLUNTEERS HELPING OUT FORSTER (FRIENDS OF SEA TURTLES EDUCATION & RESEARCH)ON LIBARAN ISLAND

Tuesday March 22.2016



BY AZMIE  AZMAN
www.sabahinsider14.blogspot.com


WITH the recent press coverage on the turtle conservation work by FOSTER (Friends Of Sea Turtles Education & Research) on Libaran island, a group of teachers from SMK BatuSapiand SMK UluSugutdecided to get down to the ground and help out.

They contacted FOSTER and booked themselves for a 3 days 2 nights volunteer program and entered Libaran island on a bring sunny morning of 18th March, taking a boat from Sandakan Yacht Club.

 
Once they arrived, they were given an orientation of the island and the turtle conservation program by Harun, the Honorary Wildlife Warden who has been working on the turtle conservation program since its inception in 2012.

The group of enthusiastic teachers then proceeded for lunch before cleaning 200m stretch of beach.

FOSTER has in fact, during early March, re launched a year-long community beach cleaning project where by local Libaran villagers are paid through sponsorship monies, to clean the beach of Libaran on a year-long basis. The teachers helped out on the areas which were not covered within the community beach cleaning.

By late afternoon, they have completed the 200m. Harunthen showed the teachers around Taman Hadiah, the turtle hatchery set up on PulauLIbaran. Explaining to them the set-up of the hatchery and how the turtle conservation program operates. They also learnt how to set up a nest for the turtle in the event that they have to transfer the eggs.

After dinner, they were treated to a video on the life cycle of a turtle.

Lights went out early that evening as the teachers wait around for a turtle to come ashore to lay eggs.

A turtle actually came ashore at about 2am, recce the land and returned to the ocean without laying eggs!

The next day, the teachers continued with their cleaning work which also included getting the “turtle hospital” ready. This is at sector one of the beach area and by far, it is an area with the most turtle landings. They get the place “ready” by clearing the sand bank and pulling any grass on it.

That evening, Alexander Yee, president of FOSTER entered Libaran and joined them for the evening dinner. After dinner, he shared with them the challenges he has faced during the set up and the future plans. The teachers were responsive with many asking lots of questions to Alexander.

PuanFazidah Abdul Pirus, the group leader for this trip and hailed from SMK BatuSapi said that she felt blessed to have the opportunity to join the program. “This is my first experience cleaning up a beach and learning about turtle hatching. By doing the activities, I believe that we have contributed something, if not much to our environment”, she said. “Also, it is an interesting experience to share with my students. Most of my students never heard of Libaranisland and know very little about the conservation program” PuanFazidah added. She believed it is important to expose the future generation with conservation knowledge and that the students should have an opportunity to participate in such program.

MrSulaimanJaafar who was with the group and a keen photographer was glad to be with the group and while there, he managed to capture many memorable moments with his camera. He vows to return again.

Yee is in fact happy that schools are getting to know of the conservation program on Libaranisland. “I hope that more schools will be aware of what we do and join us.  It is important that future generations are aware of the importance of protecting and conserving our environment and wildlife or marine species. Human being cannot live by themselves and they need to learn to live together (with the other species)” concluded Yee.

The teachers left after two nights, enriched by the experiences. They vowed to return again.


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