New website for SEATRU

Announcing our new website: http://seatru.umt.edu.my/

It is still under maintenance but soon we will be using this….

Latest update on 2012 Turtle Volunteer Program

Updates on 2012 Volunteer Program

Hello peeps, The whole slots for 2012 Turtle Volunteer Programme are currently fully booked now!!!

Job Opportunity for 2012

Job Opportunity for 2012:
Two Research assistant (RA) positions are available for early March 2012 for the Sea Turtle Conservation Program at Chagar Hutang Turtle Sanctuary, Redang Island Terengganu.

Duties: To assist the sea turtle conservation, research and outreach program conducted by SEATRU. We are also looking for candidates that are interested to pursue their studies in M.Sc. or Ph.D on sea turtles.

Requirements: Open to all. Candidate must have a good communication skills, able to speak good English. Good health condition, able to patrol the 350m beach for several times (day & night), able to work late night shift, outdoor type of person and able to swim. Applicants must be comfortable working in adverse weather conditions: direct sunlight, high heat & sometimes in wet condition. Accommodation and food is provided in the island.

PLEASE EMAIL RESUME & LETTER OF INTEREST TO juanitajoseph@gmail.com

Deadlines for application: 31 January 2012
Salary: RM1000 – RM1500

Further information: Call 09-6684317 (Sun-Thurs 10am -4pm) or email juanitajoseph@gmail.com

Volunteer Schedule 2012

Dear Turtle’s Fans,

Priority bookings  will be opened on 8 January 2012. Normal booking will be opened on 1 Feb 2012. Volunteer program 2012 will start on 31 March 2012.The price will be the same as 2011.

For the schedule of the volunteer slots, please go to this link:  SEATRU VOLUNTER SLOT 2012

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Dear Turtle’s Fans,

Wish u a MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR !!! Enjoy the holidays …… 🙂

 

Together we care for Turtles

Volunteer Program 2012

For next year we will have priority bookings which will be opened on 8 January 2012. Normal booking will be opened on 1 Feb 2012. Volunteer program 2012 will start on 31 March 2012.

The price will be the same as this year  .

HAPPY 2011 WORLD SEA TURTLE DAY!!!

Together we care for sea turtles! 

2011 Turtle Camp – Love the Sea Turtle

This year, turtle camp had entered its 16th years of educating kids from SK Redang on both sea turtle conservation and marine environment related issues. The camp was conducted from 19th – 21st May 2011 at Chagar Hutang Turtle Sanctuary. A total of 38 students participated in this camp where they were divided into two groups. Each group camped at the sanctuary for 2 days 1 night. This year Turtle Camp was sponsored wholly by Industry Networking and Community Service Center (INComS) of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu and BERJAYA Redang Resort. The opening ceremony was officiated on the first day by the Vice Director from Institute of Oceanography and Environment (INOS), Dr. Zainuddin bin Bachok. In his speech he had emphasized that “Outreach program among the youth is a really important platform to create a better leader in future”.

During the camp, students were taught about sea turtle conservation and marine related issues in an interactive way. Besides that, they were given opportunity to experience hands-on on how a mother sea turtle nests at night. This session is the highlight of the camp because students are able to witness the hardship during oviposition thus, reducing the consumerism of eggs in Terengganu.

Sea turtle themed games were also introduced to the kids such as Turtle Hunt, Turtle board game, Guess and Action game, Turtle origami competition and also a Turtle-theme drawing competition. By the end of the day, the wining teams were awarded with prizes for their healthy competition throughout the camp. Before biding goodbye, a leader from each group will lead a “Jangan makan Telur Penyu” pledge which means “Stop eating sea turtle eggs”. Kids are the mediator to their parents and the pillars of the future. They will lead the new globalization and to achieve this, early awareness and outreach are essential.

Overall, the camp was a successful one because the kids did not only had fun but at the same time were inspired to be junior sea turtle saviour!

Welcome lunch at BERJAYA Redang Resort

Opening ceremony officiated by Dr. Zainuddin Bachok

Interactive speech on Sea Turtle in Malaysia and their threats faced

Nest excavation and analysis

Turtle board game

Drawing and colouring competition

“Jangan makan telur penyu” pledge

Thanks to BERJAYA Redang for the transportation and scrumptious meals!

2011 Turtle Camp in press (Sinar Harian, 1st June 2011)

31st Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology & Conservation

This year 31st Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation was held at The Town and Country Resort, San Diego, California. The 5 days symposium was from the 12th till 16th April 2011 with the theme The Next Generation of Research and Conservation. This symposium was different from the past symposium as it recognise and support student contributions to the society and also to highlight how students have advanced research and conservation on sea turtles around the world. A student day was organised on the 13th April followed by a student mixer later in the evening where students from all continents were able to exchange idea and create international network. This year keynote presenters were Peter C.H. Pritchard and Karen A. Bjornal who touches the heart of the audiences by their very motivating presentations. The symposium was divided into two parts that is oral presentation and poster presentation sessions.

Two oral presentations were presented during the symposium under the Threats and Population Assessment sessions, which are:

1. “Determination of Natal Origins of Juvenile Green Turtles foraging at Sipadan waters, Sabah, Malaysia” by Dr. Juanita Joseph

2. “Genetics investigation on Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) carcasses from the 2007 Poching Incidence in Sabah Waters” by Chong Yee Kuen

Three poster presentations were presented under the  Health and Rehabilitation, Breeding Biology and Threats sessions, which are:

1. ” How do captive-raised Hawksbill Turtles perform when released back to the wild?” by Assoc. Prof. Liew Hock Chark

2. “Malaysian Green Turtle Eggs: A shocking discovery on toxic heavy metals and saturated fatty acids composition” by Siti Norazliyana Ali

3. “Sea Turtle Conservation Program at Chagar Hutang Beach, Redang Island, Malaysia” by Lionel Harith Sebastian Daraup

Dr. Juanita presenting during the population assessment session on the 16th April 2011

Chong Yee Kuen talking about the Hainan Poaching Incidence through genetic analysis on the 13th April 2011

Yana Ali and Lionel Harith  presenting during the poster presentation

A group photo with the beloved Dr. Karen Eckert

This symposium truly exceeded our expectations and everyone really enjoyed themselves throughout the symposium. Thank you so much to Univesiti Malaysia Terengganu for letting us to attend this symposium and also not forgetting Sea Turtle Research Unit (SEATRU) for the support on our project. A special thanks to the 31st Sea Turtle Symposium for the grants.

THANK YOU SO MUCH from us!

THANK YOU BERJAYA for the RM100K!

Prof. Dr. Noor Azhar Mohamed Shazili (Vice Chancellor of UMT Academic and International Affair), receiving the cheque on behalf of SEATRU

On the 12th April 2011, SEATRU was invited to BERJAYA Founder’s Day cheque giving ceremony in Kuala Lumpur. The cheque amounted to RM100, 000 was given by Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor. The donation will be used for our one year sea turtle research in Chagar Hutang.

We would like to express our sincere thank you for this long term generous support!

Together we care for sea turtles!