8D7N Volunteer Programme in Redang Island
15th May - 22nd May 2005
Sunset at Chagar Hutang
A LITTLE ABOUT SEATRU
SEARTU is an acronym for Sea Turtle Research Unit. It is best known for its efforts in saving sea turtle eggs in Redang Island from human exploitation for which its project leaders were elected to the Global 500 Roll of honour by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). www.global500.org
WHERE AND WHO
This programme was held in Chagar Hutang, Redang Island. Chagar Hutang is an isolated beach in the northern-most part of Redang Island. It is off limits to tourists and is one of the most beautiful spots of the island.
Six volunteers were allowed to participate in each slot. My slot (slot C) members were Yu-N and Angie (from Penang), Chong, Kimmy and Catherine (from Selangor) and I (the only representative from Malacca!)
Standing from left to right: Angie, Yu-N, Me, Kimmy, Catherine and Chong
MY RESPONSIBILITIES AS A SEATRU VOLUNTEER
We were reminded that we were not on a holiday in a tropical beach paradise, but constitute part of a team of workers whose mission was to run the turtle conservation and monitoring project. The work involved was very similar to work carried out in many sea turtle conservation programmes around the world where monitoring of every nesting female and guarding in-situ nests are conducted.
My nightime duties were:
patrolling the 330m long beach at regular intervals (2 volunteers were on duty in each session. One session was 2 hours) to locate and record all turtle arrivals.
monitoring the nesting activities of turtles and timing the various stages of nesting (e.g. body pitting, egg chambering and sand bathing)
tagging and measuring turtles after they have completed laying eggs
marking the location of the nests
My daytime duties were:
marking and measuring the location of the nests deposited the previous night
patrolling the beach at regular intervals (2 volunteers were on duty in each session. One session was 1 hour) to inspect nests for signs of predation by ants or monitor lizards.
beach clean-ups
keeping tourist away from landing on the beach
getting snorkellers and divers to leave Turtle Bay by 3.00p.m.
cooking and cleaning up of campsite
Me, the "penakut" on the left side of this picture.
It's a turtle!!!! *YaY*
Note that these are turtle eggs, NOT ping pong balls.
Nest number: 037 Recorded by: P.Y.Chen
This was the place I waited for hours for the mother turtle to lay her eggs! This was also the place I felt very much like a vet! Heehee...
A turtle's pit. Cool-leh
A turtle's track
My tired expression after 7D6N at Chagar Hutang.
SOME ACTIVITIES FOR MY VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME
a visit to the Marine Park and round island boat ride
a visit to the village (this also means a visit to Berjaya Beach Resort)
jungle trekking/ hiking Turtle Rock
snorkelling
beach cleanup
monitor lizard watch (but no trapping!)
Me at the Marine Park Posing at Berjaya Beach Resort
Fat, smelly, dirty and 'geli' monitor lizard.
At the peak of Turtle Rock
The other side of Turtle Rock.
Oh yea... hiking was TIRING!! Background: the Chagar Hutang Beach
FACILITIES AT THE SEATRU FIELD SITE AT CHAGAR HUTANG
Structures at Chagar Hutang were kept to a minimum and living conditions were very basic. The camp site consists of:
2 small huts, one for the ladies and the other for the gents
One kitchen and one dining area
A double-storeyed education cum reading corner
Look-out tower and mid-beach resting point
Good clear running water which is piped from the mountain stream
2 bathrooms and 2 squatting-type toilets
NO electricity
Two speedboats with outboard motors
Ladies hut
Dining area
All volunteers were required to share cooking and chores at the camp site. Food was provided. And due to the fact that I was the youngest volunteer in the slot (Slot C), I was only required to cook one dish instead of one meal. Catherine cooked most of the time, helped by Kimmy and Angie. Instead of having just plain rice and fried eggs for breakfast, lunch and dinner, we had tomyam fried rice, mixed vege soup, curry baby shark, spagetti, fried mee, hard-boil eggs, curry beaf (and lots more).
BEFORE WE LEFT...
Almost everyone left some souvenir for Chagar Hutang. As for us, this little souvenir was designed by Yu-N and Angie. Slot C proudly presents.....
Isn't this cool? Note that the "turtle" is made of shells.....
MY SWEETEST MOMORIES
There were lots of fun and excitement at Chagar Hutang and each and every of the activities organised were just so memorable for me. For instance, beach clean-up. At the beginning, I pulled the grass roots with 2 fingers. Thats all. It was quite "geli" because the colour of the roots were very similar to the legs of the hermit crabs. And I was so scared of hermit crabs and ghost grabs! Later, I was given a nickname by Abang Nawi. Throughout my stay, he kept calling me "penakut" instead of calling me Yeen. For the rest of the members, they either call me Yeen or "xiao mei mei" (aka little sister).
The very first nest Its a real baby shark! And I am holding
it for the first time in my entire life!!
Ha! Ha! Stupid sharks!!
"Untuk tontonan umum, turtles mating sesuai untuk ditonton oleh semua lapisan masyarakat!" Ha! Ha!
This was the place we slept. Usually by 7.30p.m., I am all ready with my penlight, mosquito repellent, mosquito coils, paper fan, tiger balm, sleeping bag, air pillow, water bottle, sweets, biscuits, and most importantly, jokes!
THE VERY LAST DAY
After packing all our stuffs, we headed to Laguna Redang Island Resort at Pasir Panjang (aka Long Beach). There, we "tumpang"ed Laguna Boat to Merang Jetty (=
Just us at Chagar Hutang....
2nd row from left to right: Abang Nawi (SEATRU staff), Angie, Yu-N and Chong
1st row from left to right: Abang Nazri (SEATRU staff), Catherine, Me, Kimmy, Fong Peng (SEATRU staff)
At Laguna Redang Island Resort