DEVELOPMENT PUSHES RIVER TERRAPINS TO THE BRINK - EXPERTS

Friends of Nature (SAM) Field Officer Meor Razak Meor Abd Rahman holds a baby river terrapin (batagur affinis) at the Terrapin Wildlife Conservation Center in Bota Kanan, Perak. --fotoBERNAMA (2024) COPYRIGHT RESERVED

Sand mining activity, seen here by Kampung Pulau Gajah, is one of the causes of soil erosion along the Perak River. Human and economic activity along the river has put the river ecosystem at risk. --fotoBERNAMA (2024) COPYRIGHT RESERVED

"Love shack" for the river terrapins (batagur affinis) to mate at the River Terrapin Wildlife Conservation Center in Bota Kanan, Perak. Females will lay eggs in the sandbar when the time comes. --fotoBERNAMA (2024) COPYRIGHT RESERVED

Perak State Executive Council member for Science, Environment and Green Technology) Teh Kok Lim, who is also the assemblyman for Aulong, answering questions during a Legislative Assembly at the Perak Darul Ridzuan Building. File photo. --fotoBERNAMA (2024) COPYRIGHT RESERVED

Sand mining, as seen along the Perak River near Kampung Pulau Gajah, is one of the causes of riverbank erosion. It also disrupts the local ecosystem, putting river terrapins at risk. This project can be seen via Google Earth. --NINA MUSLIM/BERNAMA

Adult river terrapins (batagur affinis) huddle in a corner of the pool, away from visitors at the River Terrapin Wildlife Conservation Center in Bota Kanan, Perak. Their aversion to humans and noise, on top of economic activity, make it difficult for them to find a sandbar to lay eggs. --fotoBERNAMA (2024) COPYRIGHT RESERVED