Besides the four species of sea turtles here, many people are unaware that there are 18 species of freshwater turtles in the country.

According to the Red List of Threatened Species compiled by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), many turtles are listed as critically endangered – two levels away from becoming extinct.

Other turtles are not much better off as they are on the list of animals considered threatened.

In 2011, Chen Pelf Nyok co-founded the Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia, (TCS), the only organisation dedicated to the conservation of freshwater turtles.

Located in Kemaman, Terengganu, the non-governmental and non-profit body focusses on the conservation of the river terrapin, the only species listed as totally protected under Malaysia’s Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.

Turtles of Malaysia Colouring Book

In an effort to spread greater awareness, Chen and fellow conservationist, Loretta Shepherd, co-authored “Turtles of Malaysia”, a colouring book that includes information on all the 18 freshwater turtles found in Malaysia.

“We came up with this book because I couldn’t find a similar one that I could get for my daughter,” she said, adding that parents and teachers could use the 40-page book for educational purposes.

“It all starts somewhere; by learning their names and the challenges they face, we hope people will start paying more attention to freshwater turtles,” she shared.

The duo will also be distributing free copies of the books to children from rural schools during the turtle awareness programmes.

Besides using colouring pencils and crayons, the thick pages of the book are also suitable for watercolour paints. All proceeds from the book sales will go towards TCS’s conservation activities.

For the past 11 years, TCS has been working with the local community to protect river terrapins and their eggs by maintaining a presence along the Kemaman River.

After the nesting process, the villagers collect the eggs and send them to the hatchery for incubation.

In addition to virtual and on-site tours, the organisation also conducts turtle awareness programmes in kindergartens and schools in Terengganu.

However, much like other conservation bodies, TCS struggles with funding and manpower issues.

And lamentably, due to lack of enforcement, turtle eggs are still being consumed, although the Terengganu State Assembly imposed a total ban on the sale of turtle eggs in November last year.

Given that it takes about 20 years for a turtle to mature and reproduce, they are likely to go extinct in about two to three generations if nothing is done to protect them.

“We can’t expect people to change their behaviour, especially since they have been eating turtle eggs since young. We use a softer approach; we try to build rapport so that they don’t consider us a threat, and we try to encourage them to sell the turtle eggs to us instead,” she explained.

Besides humans, turtles face other threats to their survival – destruction of habitat due to sand mining activities, getting caught in fishing gear, and being eaten by wild dogs, monitor lizards and crocodiles.

Chen also warned against buying red-eared sliders as pets as they are an aggressive and extremely invasive species of terrapin.

When released into the wild, they outcompete native turtles for resources, jeopardising the latter’s survival. Shockingly, although it is prohibited to sell them, many pet stores do since there is no proper enforcement.

So, why is it important to conserve freshwater turtles?

Just like farmers, turtles help with seed dispersals through their excrement. By consuming mangrove fruits, they ensure the propagation of mangrove trees along the river, which in turn, play an important role in preventing soil erosion, in addition to acting as a “nursery” for fishes, as well as being a source for charcoal.

Freshwater turtles also help keep rivers clean by eating dead carrion, such as fish carcasses.

Here’s how you can help

In addition to purchasing the colouring books and making cash donations, those who’d like to support TCS’s cause can buy pellets or participate in terrapin and nest adoption programmes.

One can also buy their merchandise as corporate gifts, including their beautiful batik products made by the women from local villages as part of TCS’s women empowerment initiative.

“Instead of gifting the usual pen drives and power banks, it would be better to spend money on local communities,” she pointed out.

You can purchase ‘Turtles of Malaysia’ for RM20 from TCS’s webstore or through Shopee, Lit Books and Areca Books. Learn more about TCS from its website, Facebook and Instagram.