“pitchIN is not about investment or lending. Here, ideas and projects are pitched to the public for funds. In exchange, those who support the idea (via pledges) will get rewards from project owners.

- pitchIN.my“

Hence today, on World Turtle Day, we are launching a crowd-funding project to raise funds for the production of an educational and interactive app based on “Little Turtle Messenger.” We hope that the interactive app will further spread the message of turtle conservation to a global audience.

(You may read about “Little Turtle Messenger” here and here. To date, we have sold close to 2,000 copies of the English version, and donated more than 1,000 copies of the Malay version to primary schools as well as students who participated in our Turtle Camps.)

In order to produce the interactive app, we need to raise $4,000 in 60 days. And here’s how crowd-funding works. Instead of applying for a $4,000 grant from any one party or organization, we are turning to the members of the public for support.

If you support our project, please make a pledge by following this link. You will be prompted to log in using your Facebook account, and to provide your credit card (or PayPal account) details. In return for your generosity, you will receive a reward as a token of appreciation from us.

If we were successful in raising $4,000 at the end of 60 days (i.e. on 23rd July 2013), your credit card would be charged the sum that you have pledged. If we were unable to raise $4,000 by then, your credit card would not be charged a cent.

So please support our first crowd-funding project. No amount is too small or too big. And by supporting us, you will also be giving the turtles a voice that they need :)

P/S: If you logged in to pitchIN with your Facebook account BEFORE making a pledge, your Facebook name will appear on the Pitchers page. Otherwise, your name would appear as Anonymous.

P/P/S: If you have any questions regarding our interactive app and/or making a pledge, please leave us a comment below, or send your questions to contactus@turtleconservationsociety.org.my :D

The Turtle Camp started with a short talk about turtles, terrapins and tortoises by TCS; followed by some activities/games organized and supervised by the Sri KDU facilitators. With the help of the teachers, the students were separated into 3 groups, for each of the activity/station.

One of the stations were a colouring/painting station, where students worked in groups of 3-4 to complete their artwork. Another station was a crossword puzzle/quiz station where students were to answer questions about turtles. In another station, students were first warmed up by joining the facilitators in a short “turtle dance,” after which they’d have to write/modify their own songs/poems. In each of the stations, the Sri KDU facilitators were there to guide the students.

At the end of the 3-hour Turtle Camp, we had a little prize-giving and handling of souvenirs ceremony. The following pictures were taken during the camp.

Note: These students represent the People to People International (PTPI) Malaysia Student Chapter which was chartered in 2009. Each Chapter is required to participate in the Global Youth Service Day (GYSD). The GYSD is a public education campaign that highlights the amazing contributions youths can make to their communities through year-round volunteering. This year, the Sri KDU Chapter has chosen to support Turtle Conservation in their GYSD. Ms. Chuah Siew Yen currently serves as its Adult Advisor.

Photo credit: Lai Kow Lian

P/S: More photos of the Turtle Camp are found on our TCS Facebook page.

The trip started like how it normally would — at the Turtle Sanctuary in Cherating. After learning about turtles, terrapins and tortoises, we proceeded to the River Terrapin Conservation Project site at Kg. Pasir Gajah in Kemaman. The village headman, secretary and treasurer dropped by to say Hello to the students. In the evening, we watched a green turtle lays her eggs.

Cikgu Zaik, the Secretary of the Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) has also written a short article about the visit in the Kg. Pasir Gajah blog.

Note: These students represent the People to People International (PTPI) Malaysia Student Chapter which was chartered in 2009. Each Chapter is required to participate in the Global Youth Service Day (GYSD). The GYSD is a public education campaign that highlights the amazing contributions youths can make to their communities through year-round volunteering. This year, the Sri KDU Chapter has chosen to support Turtle Conservation in their GYSD. Ms. Chuah Siew Yen currently serves as its Adult Advisor.

Photo credit: Lai Kow Lian

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.

Each post-neting female terrapin is assigned an alphabet to provide a visual identification of terrapins that we have processed.

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 is performing an ultrasound scan of a post-nesting female terrapin to determine the number of eggs that have not been laid.

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 110 terrapin hatchlings from both villages.

A river terrapin hatchling.

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.

On a mission: (From left) BERJAYA University College of Hospitality operations and resources director Shirley Hoo visiting booths with exhibition ambassadors Tong and Ng at Berjaya Times Square.

A TWO-DAY exhibition titled “Save Our Wildlife Exhibition KL ‘13” was held at Berjaya Times Square recently.

With the slogan “Make Animals’ Rights Known (M.A.R.K.)”, the exhibition was aimed at raising awareness to stop animal abuse.

It was a corporate social responsibility project by BERJAYA University College of Hospitality event management diploma students Gwendoline Yap, Rowena Ang Ji Lin, Lee Yi Yun and Vickie Chau.

“It is a great experience as a student to be given the opportunity to organise such an event.

“We are grateful to our lecturers for their encouragement and support and to our friends for their assistance,” she said.

The exhibitors were Freeland Foundation, Malayan Tiger (MYCAT), Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia, PAWS, SPCA and Young Malaysians Movement (YMM).

Among the activities were educational talks by exhibitors, dance performances, dance competitions and lucky draws.

The exhibition ambassadors — Miss Universe Malaysia 2013 Carey Ng, local celebrities Chris Tong Bing Yu, Keith Valentine Tan, Joey Leong and Lee Chui Ting — also made an appearance during the event.