Turtle eggs are being sold openly in Sabah, Malaysia despite being illegal, tourism may be playing a part
Neither the poster nor the presence of police officers deterred the operation, and business was booming.
Families and individuals drove by the corner in cars or simply walked up straight to the men to complete the transaction in broad daylight.
The sale and consumption of eggs for all species of turtles are banned in Sabah and Sarawak, as the populations of green and hawksbill turtles in the region are classified as endangered and critically endangered respectively by the World Wildlife Federation.
However, the expansive waters surrounding Sandakan and the porous maritime border with the Philippines means the area has become a popular trading point for the eggs.
Turtle News From Around the World
Conservation
Canada: Haliburton County in Ontario working to keep turtles safe
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USA: DNR’s Wisconsin Turtle Conservation Program seeking citizen reports of turtle crossings, nests
Ecology
USA: Seal Beach Naval Station in CA looking to undergo $150 million project that would relocate sea turtle channel leading from wildlife refuge to ocean
Education
Australia: Queensland Freshwater Turtle Conservation project held at Mon Repos a success
Health & Medical
USA: Sea turtle Hospital in Topsail Beach, NC takes on new patients, interns
Miscellany
Turkey: Kaptan June’s Turtle Museum and Visitor Centre at Iztuzu Beach closes doors amid changes in country
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Photo from Amir Yusof.
