How a village in Kemaman is giving one of the world's rarest turtles a fighting chance

FOR the people of Kampung Pasir Gajah, Kemaman, there were 690 reasons to celebrate on Oct 3. That was the number of river terrapin hatchlings released into the Kemaman River, the largest single release since the village's conservation project began in 2011.

These young animals belong to one of the world's most endangered freshwater turtle species. Getting them to this point had taken months of work, from collecting and incubating their eggs to caring for the hatchlings before release.

Organised by the Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (TCS), the event brought residents and visitors together for a milestone that was as much a community achievement as a conservation success.

And with family games, children's activities and a spirit of sharing alongside the release, there was plenty to celebrate beside the river.

FROM EGG TO RIVER

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The story of this record release began earlier in the year, when the terrapins' nesting season gave the conservation team a relatively short window to collect eggs.

"This year, we managed to collect 1,673 river terrapin eggs for incubation between February and March, despite a relatively short nesting period of 34 days. Of these, 1,254 hatchlings successfully emerged and were raised for four months before release," says TCS co-founder and executive director Dr Chen Pelf Nyok.

In everyday terms, about three out of every four eggs collected successfully hatched. The 690 terrapins released at the October event were part of that year's hatchlings. The numbers help explain the care behind the occasion. Long before families gathered for the release, the team had spent months helping the young animals through their earliest stage of life.

A RARE RIVER RESIDENT

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The river terrapin, Batagur affinis, is a freshwater turtle listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List. That means the species faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild, making efforts to protect it especially urgent.

Fully protected under Malaysia's Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, it occurs in Kedah, Perak, Terengganu and Pahang. It doesn't occur naturally in Sabah or Sarawak.

For Kampung Pasir Gajah, protecting this rare animal has become a shared undertaking. The Kemaman River Terrapin Conservation Project brings together TCS, the Wildlife Department and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) and the local community.

Since the project began in 2011, 13,224 eggs have been incubated and more than 8,000 terrapins released into the Kemaman River. The record October release adds another milestone to that continuing effort.

A CELEBRATION TO SHARE

Held together with Malaysia's 69th National Day celebration, the event gave families several ways to join in. Children could enter a colouring contest or try a beaded bracelet-making workshop, while family games and a lucky draw added to the programme.

At the Kongsi Rezeki booth, pre-loved clothing was offered through a community sharing initiative. Perhilitan also conducted conservation awareness activities, giving visitors a chance to learn more about wildlife protection.

The turnout included visitors from Hong Kong, Italy and Cambodia, as well as the ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Malaysia.

Officiating at the event, Air Putih assemblyman Mohd Hafiz Adam highlighted how the project's benefits reach beyond the terrapins themselves.

"The terrapin conservation programme demonstrates how environmental conservation, community empowerment and sustainable tourism can go hand in hand to improve the well-being of local communities," he said.

PEOPLE BEHIND THE MILESTONE

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Chen's work has earned recognition beyond the country. In 2018, she received the Commonwealth Points of Light Award for Malaysia, conferred by the late Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to river terrapin conservation.

Closer to home, the project's achievements reflect a partnership sustained over successive nesting seasons, with conservationists, wildlife authorities and villagers each playing a part.

The 690 hatchlings made this release a record. But the more enduring story is the effort behind them: eggs collected within a brief nesting season, young terrapins carefully raised and a community coming together to mark their return to the river.

For an endangered species, that commitment gives the numbers meaning.