31/05/2004 Monday

Janet took us snorkeling. The coral reef is really superb! I got to see giant clam, puffer fish, gigantic parrot fish with green and yellow color and other colorful fishes. It was great. Later I learn that Zul, Man and Mahadi, another SEATRU staff has their own family staying at the local village at Long Beach which is situated on the other site of the island. They know how to approach the turtle very well. Besides that they also cook lunch, dinner and take the volunteers hiking and island hopping.

Not all turtle which come up to shore will lay their eggs. Some mama turtles are very choosy and sometimes venture into the vegetation area to look for a good spot to lay their eggs. Our job is to take the time and date for each activity of the turtle. First it comes up to the shore, which is called turtle landing. Then body pitting, the turtle will use its’ front flipper to dig up the sand. After a certain depth, she will make an egg chamber with its’ hind flipper. Next she will lay her eggs. The egg is white, round and like a size of a ping pong ball. She will lay up to 80 eggs per nest. After laying her eggs, she will cover the egg chamber first and then begin sand bathing. Again she uses her front flipper to sweep the sand onto her nest. When this is done, she will crawl back to the beach and return to the sea. All this steps will take the whole night. Man, Zul or Mahadi will measure the turtle’s carapace. Check for injury and barnacles. Tag the turtle if it is not been tag yet. 

Everyday we had chores to do. In the morning we take turns to help Janet measure and mark the turtle nest. Take turns to patrol the beach every hour to keep a look out for monitor lizard and crab from destroying the nest. We are asked to bury the crab’s hole if we happen to found one near the nest. Will this help to kill the crab? I don’t think so. Besides that, there’s cooking, cleaning and tidy up the place. After that you are free to chill out and relax. I spend most of my time reading Meteor Garden comic book and writing my journal on the hammock under a tree. Listen to the wave crashing to the rock. Cool sea breeze blowing to my face. Oh..feel so good. There are three squirrels live nearby our hut. They are Pokemon, Picachu and Digimon, all named after the Japanese cartoon character. The squirrels like biscuit very much. Pokemon is the brave one and does not hesitate to take the biscuit from your hand. It is very dark at night fall. We are only accompanying by two kerosene lamps and small touch light. Although there’s nothing to be afraid of because nobody else except us on the island but still going to the toilet alone is pretty scary for the girls. Tonight we have three turtle nesting. Soon rains start to fall. A storm is heading towards the island. No patrolling the beach tonight and everybody sleeps in the hut.

Picture top right: Parrot fish.