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Pasir Kumpal

by Forest Ang   

Cheated by Baska

Waking up at 12.10am in the wee hour was what we asked for (cari susah sendiri meaning find your own problem). We had signed up for a volunteer task of patrolling the beach of Dungun River, somewhere in the middle of nowhere in the state of Trengganu, Malaysia.

It was our third night. My shift was at 6.00am. I was not supposed to wake up but I had given instruction to Pipit Tai that I would like to join him if there is a landing. Sure enough, I was abruptly awoken by him regarding a just landed river terrapin on ... (more)



The way to base camp

The way to base camp
Passing thru villages and orchards before reaching the base camp, some 15 km...
Base camp

Base camp
Misting morning

Misting morning
Every morning is a misting morning.
As the sun rises.

As the sun rises.
Morning sun at Pasir Kumpal

Morning sun at Pasir Kumpal

Sunset at Pasir Kumpal

Sunset at Pasir Kumpal
The Petronas Water Treatment plant seen here at sunset. It uses the...
Terrapin digging

Terrapin digging
Photography prohibited at night. This photo was taken with the aid of the moon.
Cages with eggs buried below the sand

Cages with eggs buried below the sand
72 days for the eggs to hatch
Transferring to base camp...

Transferring to base camp...
...from the temporary pen.
A terrapin ready tagging

A terrapin ready tagging
Each morning, terrapin will be carried to the base camp for data...

Weighing

Weighing
This one is 25 kg.
Measuring

Measuring
Length = 59 cm.
A punched hole on a terrapin

A punched hole on a terrapin
Villagers used knife to punch holes at the rear end of the shell. They...
Injecting microchip

Injecting microchip
Injecting microchip for identification on the rear right leg.
Terrapin house

Terrapin house
After injecting the microchip, the puncture needle wound was sealed...

The record

The record
The data sheet for each terrapin caught.
A nest and the track

A nest and the track
The nest

The nest
Terrapin being released

Terrapin being released
Seen here is Sector 8. There were altogether 47 sectors. Distance...
Close up of Batagor baska

Close up of Batagor baska

Into the river

Into the river
Prof Chan

Prof Chan
The project head Prof Chan being interviewed. She initiated the volunteer...
Clay & wood

Clay & wood
A young "rock" of clay & wood.
Wooden "stone"

Wooden "stone"
Any geologist knows what is this?
The rocky beach at the western end

The rocky beach at the western end

Dead snake

Dead snake
Found on the sandy beach at Pasir Kumpal.
The river bank at Pasir Kumpal

The river bank at Pasir Kumpal
Setting sun

Setting sun
Buried eggs being dug out

Buried eggs being dug out
The eggs were dug out, depth measured, and eggs counted before putting...
Volunteers and Wildlife officer

Volunteers and Wildlife officer
discussing about the terrapin nesting.

Broken egg

Broken egg
A broken egg found in the river. The shell was taken out to be photographed.
Setting sun at sector 10

Setting sun at sector 10
The vastness of Pasir Kumpal

The vastness of Pasir Kumpal
Silting at the river bank

Silting at the river bank
The visitor book at Pasir Kumpal

The visitor book at Pasir Kumpal
article published 03/13/2006

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that was so interesting, Forest! Thanks for posting! It reminds me of the famous poem: (by Ogden Nash) "The turtle lives 'tween plated decks, I think it's very clever, in such a fix, to be so fertile" (or something like that!) A turtle lays about 10,000 (or more!) eggs a year?!
— Eleanor Robb, March 23, 2006

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