Picture Show……Executive
Committee of FOSTER with the newly appointed Director of Sabah Wildlife
Department. (L-R) Mr. Yusof Teppo, Mr. James Leong, Mr. Augustine Tuuga, Mr.
Alexander Yee, Dr. James Alin and Mr. Haslin Gaffor.
BY
ROBERT SONTOLOYO
Sunday
November 20.2016
The Executive Committee of FOSTER (Friends Of Sea Turtles
Education & Research) paid a courtesy visit to the newly appointed director
of Sabah Wildlife Department on 15th November 2016.
On behalf of the Committee, the president of FOSTER Mr.
Alexander Yee congratulated Mr. Augustine Tuuga for his new appointment and
also for the recent successful seizing of 3,011 turtle eggs by his enforcement
team from the Sandakan interstate bus terminal.
During the hour long visit, the Committee updated Mr.
Tuuga on the progress of the turtle conservation work on Libaran island.
As part of a turtle conservation program made available
through the subsequent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the
Sabah Wildlife Department in July 2013, FOSTER was involved in the setting up
of a turtle hatchery on Libaran island in 2012.
The program includes creating
awareness for the locals and visitors on the conservation value of sea turtles,
undertaking research projects with the goal of better understanding the life
cycle of sea turtles surrounding the Libaran island area and to make available
research programs on sea turtle for international and local students.
Since 2012 till June 2016, that hatchery has collected
20,262 Green Turtle eggs and 10,598 Hawksbill Turtle (totaling 30,860) eggs. Of
these, 16,034 baby Green Turtles and 7,474 baby Hawksbill Turtles (totaling
23,808) have been successfully released into the ocean.
The Committee also discussed on the program undertaken by
FOSTER such as community beach cleaning and dialogues with villagers.
Moving ahead, a book on the turtle program on Libaran
will be published by FOSTER and more awareness programs involving the local
school and capacity building on Libaran will be conducted.
“I am glad that FOSTER has been able to create more
awareness to the public on the importance and values of turtle conservation. It
is vital that we protect these endangered species” said the Mr. Tuuga “it is
our Department hope that more people will step up to help and work towards this
same goal of protection and conservation. It is only through united effort that
we can progress together” added Mr Tuuga. He also reminded FOSTER to continue
to work hard and keep up with the good work that has been started.
The discussion ended with the Committee members
presenting a drawing done by the wife of Dr. James Alin, the advisor of FOSTER.
It depicts a pangolin, it is another endangered species that Sabah Wildlife
Department is working hard to protect.
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