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sit bolt upright in my lounger as the bar manager bursts onto the pool deck, trumpeting: “Everybody run quick, baby sea turtles are hatching!” Peace becomes mayhem as guests fumble for cameras, abandon drinks and dash to the beachfront. There, 176 sea turtle hatchlings have clambered from the sand and are squirming in their protective mesh cage. Tiny flippers flapping wildly, they are desperate to make their way to the ocean. The nesting site seems an odd choice – being three steps from one of the guest rooms – but the sea turtles of Malaysia have been laying eggs on this beach for millions of years, and a few resort villas will not deter them. The Malay-style villas belong to the stylish and natural Batu Batu Resort on Pulau Tengah, southeast Malaysia. This paradise is only three hours by car and boat from bustling Singapore. But the beauty here is more than skin deep: this resort has heart, and is fighting to keeping Malaysia’s sea turtles alive. Batu Batu employs a marine biologist and during my visit it’s New Zealand-born Heather Murray. After measuring the babies, Heather prepares to release them. Adults and kids respectfully observe one of nature’s most amazing spectacles as the helpless turtles purposefully scurry over the sand, disappearing out to sea. Guests listen in rapt silence as Heather explains the plight of Malaysia’s sea turtles.
Dwindling numbers
Saving Malaysia’s
Most turtles nesting here are hawksbill turtles, which are critically endangered. Turtles face many threats, including entanglement in fishing nets, pollution and illegal egg harvesting. Stolen eggs from turtle nests can fetch around
sea turtles
Marine biologist carolyn beasley checks out the turtle conservation programme at Batu Batu Resort.
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2017
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REPORT CARD
80 cents each in markets of Malaysia’s east coast, where they are eaten as a delicacy. Serious conservation work is needed to protect the turtles.
information www.batubatu.com.my
Batu Batu’s turtle hatchery Heather explains that the resort’s owner, Dato Chua, grew up locally and is a nature enthusiast. She beams: “It’s really nice having owners that are so passionate about conservation and really prepared to fund it.” Eggs laid on the resort’s beachfront are safely in the public eye. But during 2014, eggs on the uninhabited beaches were being poached. With the permission of the Malaysian Department of Marine Parks, Dato Chua commissioned a turtle hatchery. Eggs are relocated inside a fenced area and reburied in the sand. Two months later they hatch and are immediately released. Batu Batu also offers to buy turtle eggs from poachers — paying the same rates asked for in the markets — and now receives eggs from many nearby islands. By the end of 2016, the resort had released approximately 7000 turtle hatchlings into the ocean. Needing more manpower to watch over so many turtles, Batu Batu started the Turtle Watch Camp. Around 18 volunteers from all over the world are accommodated at the camp and join in the turtle conservation work, monitoring nests and gathering data. Moving
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forward, Batu Batu is assisting the government to start a turtle hatchery at nearby Pulau Tinggi.
Island ecosystem 02
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01 Baby green turtle making its way to the ocean 02 A slice of paradise 03 Enjoying the pristine waters 04 Exploring the island 05 Go team! Images 03, 04 & 05 © Carolyn Beasley 06 Purple anemone 07 Baby turtles making their way. Images 02, 06 & 07 © Batu Batu Resort
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volume 51
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Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website
My family joins a volunteer beach clean up on the far side of the island. Kids initially reluctant are soon triumphantly bagging up bottles, fishing line and old ropes. The longevity of plastic is a source of amazement, with bottles from Vietnam, China and Taiwan all being found. The volume of rubbish is staggering. Heather tells me that the staff cleaned up a beach after the last wet season: “In one hour, we removed 80 garbage bags of rubbish.” Considering the ocean-borne rubbish worldwide, it’s not surprising that floating plastic, which looks like food to a turtle, is a major threat. Batu Batu cares for the underwater environment, too. Recently the resort commenced a coral reef enhancement project, utilising fragments of coral and recycled glass bottles. Snorkellers and divers are educated on protecting corals and there are no-fish-feeding displays. The absence of smothering algae and dead corals indicate that the reef ecosystem is in healthy balance.
Just rewards The resident manager, Mohan Rao, explains the resort’s philosophy: “No disposable plastics are allowed at the resort, all drinking water comes in bulk refillable bottles and smaller glass bottles are reused in guest rooms. In the coming months we also hope to be composting all food scraps.” The resort collaborates with researchers from the Department of Marine Parks, the Forest Research Institute, and other institutions. Even the outdoor furniture has been made from recycled teak. Mohan proudly tells me: “Batu Batu’s environmental credentials helped us win the FIABCI Malaysia award for best resort in 2015.” Recently going one better, in 2016, the resort was awarded the FIABCI worldwide award in the resort category, with environmental criteria contributing to the title. Batu Batu earns a big tick from me. Twenty years from now, today’s hatchlings will return to lay their own eggs on Pulau Tengah. With continued protection, my grandkids may also get to witness the ancient turtle magic.
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