Overview #
Project Background
The Ma’ Daerah Turtle Sanctuary Centre is a newly established hatchery and interpretation centre dedicated to the protection and conservation of sea turtles. It was officiated in June 1999. The project aims to protect marine turtles in their natural habitat.
The Centre was established with sponsorship from BP Petronas Acetyls Sdn. Bhd. in support of turtle conservation and management programmes in Terengganu. Department of Fisheries Malaysia has been given the mandate to manage the area as of 1999.
Since then, Education and Awareness programmes are being conducted there by WWF-Malaysia with financial support from BP Asia Pacific (M) Sdn Bhd & BP PETRONAS Acetyls Sd Bhd.
Location
The Centre is situated in Kemaman district in the east coast state of Terengganu. Ma’ Daerah is a secluded 1.7km sandy beach surrounded by coastal hill forest. The only road access is through a rough track cutting through secondary forest and small orchards
Facilities available at the Centre
The Centre comprises a hatchery, an interpretation centre and basic toilet facilities.
Nature at its best
In the early morning and evening, one would get the opportunity to observe a line of great hornbills flying from one hill to another to source for food.
One would also wake-up to the calls of the gibbons high up in the hills. On cloud-free nights, one can lie on the beach and watch the spectacle of a sea of stars and the occasional shooting stars.
The highlight, of course, are the gentle Green Turtles, the majestic reptile which is a symbol of longevity to the Thai people, which choose to nest on this beach every year from April to September.