Cherating Turtle Sanctuary and Information Centre

Last Friday, we went to Kuantan for our group agency’s family camp for a three days and two nights stay.

Part of our itinerary was a visit to the Cherating Turtle Sanctuary and Information Centre on that Friday afternoon.



Kids at the entrance to the Cherating Turtle Sanctuary and Information Centre.



The Cherating Turtle Sanctuary is managed by the Department of Fisheries Malaysia alongside the State Government of Pahang. Apparently,  it was opened to the public sometime in mid 1998.

As we enter the centre, we went straight to the three ponds at the centre where there are turtles and terrapins swimming in the pond. From here, we moved on to a room with a video playback on the efforts in the turtles conservation programme in protecting the turtles from getting extinct.

We were earlier been told that there were baby turtles ready to be released into the sea. We had to prebook the number of turtles we required a few days earlier as release of the baby turtles are limited. A payment of RM5 per turtle hatchling is to be paid which is also treated as part of a donation towards the conservation programme.

The kids were extremely excited to know that there are baby green turtles ready to be released to sea.

After the video presentation, we headed outside to get ready for the turtles release. Just beside the centre, there is a turtle hatchery area where turtle rangers transfer turtle eggs laid by the turtle from the beach to the hatchery to protect from any harm.

This would ensure that the turtle hatchlings will hatch safely, after which, it will need to be released to the huge ocean out there.



Turtle Hatchery



We were told by the guide that the baby turtles from this beach will normally come back to lay their eggs when their time is due.

Admission is free and the visiting hours are from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm with an hour lunch break from 1:00pm to 2:00pm/ On Fridays, there is a 3 hours break for lunch and prayers from 12 noon to 3:00pm. The Sanctuary is closed on Mondays.

You may need to call and verify if you want to participate in the release for the baby turtles or watching turtles laying eggs at night.

Cherating Turtle Sanctuary Address:

Turtle Sanctuary & Information Center
26050 Balok, Cherating, Kuantan, Pahang.
Contact No. : (6) 09-581 9087



baby green turtles in a box, ready for release



kids taking great care and being gentle with their hatchlings



Brendan's extremely careful with his baby green turtle



Up close with a baby green turtle



Eryn gently releasing her baby green turtle on the sand

 

A baby turtle making its way to the sea



wriggling their way through the rough surface on the sand

 

Love our turtles.



Brendan at the beach