The sea turtle is on the list of most endangered species. Should
there be no effort to conserve the turtle, its species would
certainly become extinct.
RTB reported that to prevent
this from happening, the Brunei Museums Department has been
entrusted as an authorised body in the Convention of
International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora, since becoming a member of CITES in 1990.
The Director of Brunei Museums,
Awg Hj Matassim Hj Jubah, was speaking at the launch of the
"Turtle Management and Recovery" workshop yesterday
morning.
He explained that sea turtles
are protected under the 1978 Wildlife Conservatory Act of the
Museums Department.
It is an offence, he added, to
capture, hunt, sell or destroy these endangered species.
Offenders are liable to a fine
and imprisonment if found guilty.
The four-day workshop is fully
financed by the Asean Regional Centre for Bio-Diversity
Conversion with the collaboration of the Forestry Department.
Participants are students from
upper secondary schools, staffs of the Museums Department,
Forestry and Fisheries as well as some volunteers.
Conducted by an invited
lecturer from Malaysia, the workshop also deals with the theory
and practical lessons on turtle conservation.
The participants will also have
the opportunity to monitor turtles landing on the beaches of
Brunei.
The workshop is a valued effort
that should be held from time to time to upgrade public
awareness on the importance of conserving the country's various
bio-diversity, including its flora and fauna.
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