THE carcass of an adult male green turtle was found floating in waters off Pulau Kapas near Marang at 11am today.

Terengganu Fisheries Department director Ruzaidi Mamat said it was the 10th turtle death recorded since January 3.

“The turtle, which is 80cm long and 69cm wide, is believed to have died as a result of drowning after it was trapped in a net and its carcass was buried on Pulau Kapas,” he said today.

The first turtle death reported in Terengganu this year was on January 3 at Pantai Penunjuk Kijal near Kemaman followed by two adult female green turtles at separate locations at Chendering port, Kuala Terengganu and Seberang Takir in Kuala Nerus on January 12.

The fourth and fifth deaths were reported on January 13, also in two separate locations: a baby green turtle in Pulau Kerengga, Marang and an adult male green turtle in Paka.

The sixth and seventh deaths were two adult male green turtles recorded at Pantai Batu Buruk in Kuala Terengganu and Seberang Takir in Kuala Nerus on January 14, while the eighth death occurred on January 18 in Kijal and the ninth death was reported on January 20 in Pantai Kemasik.

Ruzaidi advised the public to call the Fishcom 24-hour hotline on 03-8888-5019 or 03-8870-4058, if they find a dead turtle or live and stranded on the beach.

Meanwhile, turtle conservation activist and founder of Marang Turtle Conservation Rani Awang, 56, said the Fisheries Department should investigate to identify why so many animals had died in such a short period.

“Many turtles conservation programmes have been undertaken over the years to ensure the sustainability of marine treasures and it has proven successful with the release of baby turtles.

“However, it is quite unfortunate because the death rate at sea has also increased and we want this to be investigated seriously to prevent it from recurring,” he said. – Bernama, January 22, 2022.