Article: Passage to survival

Monday June 15, 2009

By CHRISTINA CHIN, Photos by GOH GAIK LEE

Resort hosts activities promoting conservation of turtles.

DETERMINED to reach the sea, the adorable baby turtles were not going to be discouraged by the strong waves and gawking audience.

Guests invited to the Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa's Turtle Conservation Programme launch in Penang were eager to watch the turtles swim out into the vast ocean and could barely contain their excitement.

Among the activities were the release of 100 baby turtles into the sea, a turtle sand sculpture and magnet painting competition.

Painted turtles: Kids admiring the entries for the magnet painting competition.

The first, second and third place winners of the turtle magnet painting competition were Kong Zheng Jet, Jonathan Ang and Leong Jia Hao, respectively.

In the turtle sand sculpture competition, Uplands School's Purple Team took first place followed by the Red Team in second and the IB team in third.

Friends of turtles: Turtle sand sculpture competition.

Uplands School marketing and events manager Bram Tan said more than 60 students turned up for the event.

"They all came voluntarily as it is an after-school activity.

"They really wanted to be here which is great," he said, adding that the event also coincided with the school's environmental week programme.

Organised with the support of the Malaysian Fisheries Department and the Penang Nature Tourist Guide Association (PNTGA), the project was launched at the resort grounds on June 4 in conjunction with World Environment Day 2009.

Act of love: (Top) Baby turtles are put in pails of water and are then released on the beach (below) in Batu Ferringhi.

In his speech, Rasa Sayang resident manager Christian A. Nannucci said the project was part of the resort and spa's corporate social responsibility programme.

"We realise that it is crucial for us to conserve nature's bio-diversity which has been central to the resort's allure.

"To create awareness, our Gift Shop now stocks a range of turtle-inspired souvenirs such as T-shirts, hand-painted clay fridge magnets, key and napkin rings and glass sculptures.

"Part of the proceeds will be channelled to the Turtle Conservation Centre in Pantai Kerachut to ensure the continuity of its educational and research programmes, while the balance of the proceeds will benefit the Association of Resource and Education for Autistic Children (REACH) in Penang," he said.

Nannucci said he hoped that the funds collected would support their activities especially in relation to wildlife conservation.

"In addition to promoting awareness on the threat to the turtles' survival, the resort would also work with the PNTGA in organising trips for its guests to the conservation centre."

In his address, state Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said despite ongoing efforts by the private and public sectors, the island's turtle population continued to dwindle.

"The situation has become increasingly critical.

"As a turtle hatching haven, we must act swiftly and decisively to conserve nature.

"To be truly effective, there must be awareness through education," he said.

He urged the public to refrain from eating turtle eggs to prevent poaching activities.

"If we curb the demand, poaching will stop and if effluents are diverted from known turtle hatching areas, pollution can be curtailed.

"I also urge other hotels and resorts to support the Malaysian Fisheries Department in its conservation efforts," he said.

Chow said in its bid to become an international city, the state would be formulating "green and sustainable policies" to protect the environment.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Metro: North 15 June 2009