Posing with a post-nesting female terrapin.

Nevertheless, we have managed to secure a total of 461 eggs from two villages along the Kemaman River this year — 369 eggs from Kg. Pasir Gajah and 92 eggs from Kg. Tok Kapor.

In addition to inserting a microchip and drilling a small hole on the marginal scute for identification purposes, we have also assigned an alphabet to each of the post-nesting female terrapins. Returning terrapins that had an alphabet on their carapaces need not be brought back to the campsite for processing.

A post-nesting female marked with an alphabet.

It is also our pleasure to have Dr. Gerald Kuchling from the University of Western Australia with us at the nesting bank for a week. Dr. Kuchling is a well-known turtle reproductive biologist and we have invited him to perform some ultrasound scans on our post-nesting female terrapins.

Dr. Gerald Kuchling scanning a post-nesting terrapin.

While some terrapin hatchlings have started to emerge, most of the eggs are still being incubated in both villages. All newly-emerged hatchlings are given a number (for identification purposes) and are weighed and measured. To date, we have processed more than 200 terrapin hatchlings from both villages.

Checking the nests undergoing incubation.

Look ma! I’m coming out of my shell!

I would like to record my sincere appreciation to:

• The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund and Turtle Conservation Fund for supporting the research projects in both villages.
• Dr. Gerald Kuchling from University of Western Australia for joining us and performing the ultrasound scans of the post-nesting female terrapins.
• Andrew Walde of Turtle Survival Alliance for advice on marking the post-nesting river terrapins.
• The “Terrapin Gang” in Kg. Pasir Gajah — Wazir, Zul, Dollah, Nasir, Perik and Din for their dedication towards the project and for assuring me that it was OK to have fewer nests (and eggs) this year.
• Anuar and Lan for securing the terrapin eggs from Kg. Tok Kapor.
• My Mum, Lai Kow Lian, for being my assistant throughout the entire nesting season.

P/S: This post is cross-posted on the TCS website.

After we have cleared immigration, we would have to pass a security check, where our hand luggage is checked and scanned. In most airports, we’d be required to remove our laptops/tablets/mobile phones and place them into a tray. And in some stricter airports (like those in the US), we’d be required to remove our belts and shoes too.

What boggles me isn’t all that. I know that’s a standard procedure to ensure that we do not have, say, a Swiss Army knife or equivalent in our hand luggage. What I don’t understand is that we are NOT allowed to bring drinking water along!

The airport security personnel would either ask us to finish our bottle of water, or if it was a mineral water bottle, to trash it.

And right after we have cleared security, we proceed to the departure lounge and the FIRST thing we see is a couple of convenience stores that sell, guess what, bottled water!

On our trip to Hanoi recently, I forgot that I had a brand new tube of 200g Colgate in my handbag (don’t ask), and needless to say, it was confiscated by the security personnel and trashed right away. I even tried to reason with him that it was for 4 persons! And once we got to the departure lounge, my Mum bought another tube of toothpaste from a convenience store, without a hassle.

So what is the rationale behind confiscating our drinking water and toothpaste if these items could be easily purchased later? Anybody knows?

A lot had happened in the past three months. My youngest maternal aunt passed away on the fourth day of the New Year. Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (TCS), the NGO that I co-founded, had its second AGM. This second AGM was a lot more fun and casual compared to our first AGM because most of our members have been involved, first-hand, in the activities that TCS carries out, and are familiar with us Committee Members.

In February, I was back in Ipoh for Chinese New Year, and almost immediately after, I returned to Kemaman for my second field season by the banks of the Kemaman River (you may read about my Ph.D. project here).

Reunion dinner with relatives in Ipoh.

With a post-nesting river terrapin on the banks of the Kemaman River.

On the sixth day of Chinese New Year, I was involved in a car accident. I never did recall how it happened, but the good news is that I escaped unhurt.

I was involved in a car accident on the sixth day of Chinese New Year.

In March, we released 272 river terrapins into the Kemaman River, and many of our friends from Penang, KL/PJ, Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu and Kemaman participated in the release. In an effort to raise funds for TCS, we also put all 272 terrapins up for adoption, and guess what? All the terrapins were “adopted!” Here’s a short video taken on the day of the release:

I booked the Explorathor II, which is both open-air and covered and has an observation deck. When it got too cold and too sunny, I went to the back of the boat, which is covered. The suit and mittens came really handy! Carl, our naturalist, said that this was the first time he had gone to such a distance to watch the Orcas! John, our captain said that we had travelled 144 miles on our return trip, and it the whole trip took approximately 6 hours.

John made a pit stop for us to photograph the seals and Carl introduced to us the Arbutus tree, which is highly endemic. About 1.5 hours later, we arrived at Sooke and saw quite a few Orcas in the water. John ensured that everybody on board had a good view of the whales before returned.

Tips #1: Book the Explorathor II if you don’t want want to be exposed to the elements throughout your 6-hour trip. It could get too windy, cold and hot (especially on your way back).

Tips #2: Bring some lunch along! Or you could order online too.

Tips#3: Bring sunblock!

Tips #4: Remember to charge your camera batteries the night before. I helped a mother-daughter took pictures of them and found that their camera batteries were almost drained, even before the trip began. I don’t think they managed to take any pictures of the Orcas :(

You can either find your way to the bridge by yourself, or you could take one of the many shuttle bus services provided. You could tour the park by yourself, or you could join the guided tours offered from time to time. You could participate in the stamp-collecting effort and earn yourself a certificate, and your child/children could play the scavenger hunt game in the park.

The park consists of a super-long suspension bridge above the fast-flowing Capilano River, a super-nice board walk that allows you to appreciate being on top of fir trees, a cliftwalk that takes your breath away and a souvenir shop and a couple of eatery joints. There are many “Did you know?” info boards along the board walk and around the park, which makes it even more educational and interactive.

I read that this attraction could take about 2-3 hours, but I ended up staying for 6 hours!