GIVING TURTLES A FIGHTING CHANCE IN BORNEO

But a committed group of volunteers is working hard to turn the situation around. The Kudat Turtle Conservation Society (KTCS) was established in 2011 by Francesca Winfield, who became aware of the plight of the region’s sea turtles thanks to her passion for diving. With support from USAID through the Coral Triangle Support Partnership, KTCS is driving an awareness and education campaign that includes activities like waste recycling, beach clean ups, school workshops and engagement with commercial and artisanal fishers. “We encourage them to fish sustainably – commercial fishers can use nets with Turtle Excluder Devices (TED) for example,” Francesca explains.

What began as a single individual has now become a grassroots NGO with 40 members and 10 committee members.  And now, KTCS is establishing turtle hatcheries at two sites in Tip of Borneo. Volunteers will observe female turtles laying eggs, then carefully move them to an area where they can be guarded until they hatch. “We already have the approval from Sabah Wildlife Department,” says Francesca. “And now we’re developing ecotourism projects to support the conservation work,” she adds.
 
At one of the sites, Bawang Jamau village, plans are well underway to build a homestay. The project is being spearheaded by local resident Roland Agasai, who recognizes the value of Kudat’s turtle population, not least as a draw for tourists. KTCS is already working with an adventure travel company, which brings in overseas students to work as volunteers on conservation projects. Two more companies now want to get involved. KTCS is also in the process of recruiting an intern to gather much needed data on local turtle populations and behaviors.

“There is huge potential for sustainable ecotourism in Tip of Borneo,” Francesca says. “It’s small, it’s beautiful and there’s nobody here. Our vision is to turn poachers into tour guides. And we are already making it happen.”