Leatherback Turtle sighting in Rantau Abang -WAY BACK in 08/06/1980

My last visit here was in 1980,while i was still having my course in Polytechnic Kuantan.I came alone here from Kuantan after a term break; by hitch hiking!!

This was a turtle hatchery site just beside the Rantau Abang beach.Look at the simple set up here when compare to the new facilities today at Cherating.

This leatherback turtle was huge in size. Almost like the size of a "Kancil car" !! In those days while she was laying the eggs;everyone can have a feel by touching and stroking her...! Yeah including myself...i felt that the body was warm and her back was soft not like the rest of the turtle. No wonder this species are called the "leather back" turtle.

Camera flashes were every where from all corners of the visitors.Once the turtle has started to lay eggs,she will not move or shy away from those harassment from the visitors.But now as i had experience in the Cherating sighting;the whole process of it was very tight and governed by the park rangers on guard.The rule was : No camera flashes,lower our voice volume and do not stand to stare from the turtle's front while she is laying eggs.

I have had heard about and even saw some old post card;people climbed on top of the turtle's back for a ride before she goes back to the sea!! Xzx*#@!

The sighting for this species has tremendously dropped to an unbelievable point ! Who got to be blame? The tourist? The authorities? Or the turtle themselves? Haha stupid isn't it?I don't see tiger or lion vanishing from the Indian Jungle or from the Safari Park in Africa? I strongly believe it is the humans' behavior that causes the species to extinct.i.e: trap in the fishing net, get caught and slaughter for its meat or might be even being eaten before they were full grown and many other more tales... And i do not think they are that fussy to choose their breeding ground.What say You?

while i was in Cherating on the 23/8/08 i was told that there were about 5 sighting of leatherback turtle on the Terengganu Beaches!!! for the last few months.Is was a good news indeed.That's why i say if these mother turtles got a ill feeling of our tourist here...they would never never want to come back...but please remember they are just animals.it is our duty to conserve these species and protect them by all means.The campaign of conservation must be year long and forever as long as the species are still around and NOT Hangat hangat tahi Ayam one ma!like the Road safety Campaign.