The terrapin nesting season in the Kemaman River this year began on the 7th February and ended on the 11th March 2013. Despite stretching for more than 30 days, nesting activities were significantly reduced (compared to last year) due to the tail-end of the monsoon experienced in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The Malaysian Meteorological Department reported that the East Coast states and Johor received between 300% and 800% of precipitation in February. As a result, the terrapin nesting bank in Kg. Pasir Gajah was submerged for about 7 days in the month.
Nevertheless, we have managed to secure a total of 461 eggs from two villages along the Kemaman River this year — 369 eggs from Kg. Pasir Gajah and 92 eggs from Kg. Tok Kapor.
In addition to inserting a microchip and drilling a small hole on the marginal scute for identification purposes, we have also assigned an alphabet to each of the post-nesting female terrapins. Returning terrapins that had an alphabet on their carapaces need not be brought back to the campsite for processing.
Each post-neting female terrapin is assigned an alphabet to provide a visual identification of terrapins that we have processed.
It is also our pleasure to have Dr. Gerald Kuchling from the University of Western Australia with us at the nesting bank for a week. Dr. Kuchling is a well-known turtle reproductive biologist and we have invited him to perform some ultrasound scans on our post-nesting female terrapins.
Dr. Gerald Kuchling is performing an ultrasound scan of a post-nesting female terrapin to determine the number of eggs that have not been laid.
While some terrapin hatchlings have started to emerge, most of the eggs are still being incubated in both villages. All newly-emerged hatchlings are given a number (for identification purposes) and are weighed and measured. To date, we have processed more than 110 terrapin hatchlings from both villages.
A river terrapin hatchling.
I would like to record my sincere appreciation to:
- The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund and Turtle Conservation Fund for supporting the research projects in both villages.
- Dr. Gerald Kuchling from University of Western Australia for joining us and performing the ultrasound scans of the post-nesting female terrapins.
- Andrew Walde of Turtle Survival Alliance for advice on marking the post-nesting river terrapins.
- The “Terrapin Gang” in Kg. Pasir Gajah — Wazir, Zul, Dollah, Nasir, Perik and Din for their dedication towards the project and for assuring me that it was OK to have fewer nests (and eggs) this year.
- Anuar and Lan for securing the terrapin eggs from Kg. Tok Kapor.
- My Mum, Lai Kow Lian, for being my assistant throughout the entire nesting season.
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