By SV Singam

Hawksbills nest in five main areas in Melaka – Tanjung Serai-Tanjung Dahan, Padang Kemunting, Kem Terendak, Tanjung Bidara and Pulau Upeh. Each of these areas presents a different challenge in the conservation of turtles and turtle habitats.

Tanjung Serai-Tanjung Dahan: The area is relatively remote and isolated. As a result, the area did not suffer from any significant poaching problems when conservation activities were first begun. However, it is believed that the level of poaching has increased of late. Because of the remoteness of the area, patrolling is difficult. Apart from replanting eggs bought from collectors, little else is planned at this time.

Tanjung Bidara: A relatively minor nesting site. With limited resources, not much attention can be paid to those area. If legislation is available to protect the beach, that can be done. But until then, eggs laid there will be moved to the hatchery. If the area gets developed, the habitat can be permanently lost.

Kem Terendak: Already restricted to public access. It is easy to gazette the beach as protected and take steps to secure the nesting areas. It is possible to minimise light pollution in those specific areas where the Hawksbills nest without impacting military security arrangements. The military authorities have been approached about the matter of turtle conservation and they have not rejected these proposals. It is hoped that they will move quickly to put these things into motion. After they do, we will have at least one area where Hawksbills can nest in safety without man's interfering presence.

Padang Kemunting: Area where the most complicated arrangements will be required. This is a highly populated area with a large number of holiday resorts and tourist visitors. It is impossible and undesirable to gazette the beach as protected and exclude the local residents and tourists. Instead, a conservation strategy that engages the locals and leverages on the tourists is necessary.

The WWF has indicated its willingness to work with local resorts to develop Turtle Tourism programs. This would involve rearranging the lighting systems to minimise light pollution, restricting beach access in nesting areas during nesting periods, organising non-intrusive turtle-watching sessions and so on. By doing this, the Hawksbills would be allowed to nest and flourish in natural conditions, tourists would still be able to satisfy their turtle-watching desires and the local resorts will suffer no loss; on the contrary, they may even enjoy increased business from the publicity of Turtle Tourism.

Those people who have been making a living by collecting and selling turtle eggs will need to be taken care of – transition solutions can be found. But if the trade in turtle eggs and other turtle related products is not made illegal everywhere, clandestine operations will continue to impact conservation efforts.