In the first five months of this year, Rantau Abang Turtle Conservation and Information Center (TCIC) in Dungun has seen a considerable rise in turtle landings.

Rantau Abang TCIC head Mohammad Firdaus Abdillah a total of 3,783 turtle landings, an increase of nearly 70% have been recorded, compared to 2,573  in the corresponding period last year.

“We do not rule out the possibility that the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) since March 18 had increased the number of turtle landings in Terengganu due to the lack of disturbances along the coast during the period.

“However, the MCO period could not be used as a parameter because it was something that only happened this year and there was no MCO situation before this.

“Besides, the main turtle landing beaches in Terengganu have been labeled with signboards that prohibit the public to enter the beaches between 5 pm and 8 am. Therefore, the changes in people's traffic on the beaches are minimal before and during MCO,” he told.

Of the 3,783 landings, 3,780 were green turtles and 3 were hawksbill turtles, Mohammad Firdaus said.

“However, the MCO has given a very positive impact, particularly in resort islands. The reason is that the number of tourist boats has sharply plunged causing the number of the reported death of turtle hit by boat’s blades to decline,” he added.

Mohammed Firdaus said that he didn't preclude the possibility that baby tortoises, which had flown in 2000, had entered the mature age of egg-laying and this year started to land on the shore of the State based on records of turtle protection and efforts since the 1990s, where many places had been transformed here into turtle sanctuaries.

“If this is the case, we are expecting higher turtle landing starting this year and subsequent years,” he said.