WWF EGGS ON TO SAVE THE TURTLE EGG

PETALING JAYA, April 21 (Bernama) -- The World Wide Fund for Nature
(WWF-Malaysia) has embarked on an 'eggs-traordinary' campaign to bag 40,000
signatures in support of preserving the beleaguered turtle eggs.

Its executive director, Dr Dionysius S. K. Sharma, said the campaign sought
support to regulate laws to ban the sale and consumption of turtle eggs
nationwide and establish comprehensive and holistic federal legislations to
conserve marine turtles.

"Through this campaign, we aim to improve the protection of our marine
turtles.

"So, when they sign on to the campaign, they pledge to themselves that they
would not eat turtle eggs anymore," he told a media briefing on the campaign
here Tuesday.

The public can start signing up for the campaign from between Wednesday and
Sept 30, by logging in wwwf.org.my.

Sharma said, marine turtles were now threatened with extinction due to
various factors, including consumption of turtles eggs, those accidentally
caught in fishing gear, poorly planned coastal development, nesting beach and
illegal trade of turtles parts.

"We want to tell the public that we need your support, and with just one
signature, maybe they can support us to save the turtles," he added.
-- BERNAMA