The teachers from SMK Batu Sapi and SMK Ulu Sugut who volunteered to clean the beach of Libaran Island.
SANDAKAN: Aware with the turtle conservation work by FOSTER (Friends Of Sea Turtles Education & Research) on Libaran island, a group of teachers from SMK Batu Sapi and SMK Ulu Sugut decided to get down to the ground and help out.
They contacted FOSTER and booked themselves for a three-day two-night volunteer program and entered Libaran Island on a sunny morning of March 18 by taking a boat from the Sandakan Yacht Club.
Once they arrived, they were given an orientation of the island and the turtle conservation program by Harun, the honorary wildlife warden who has been working on the turtle conservation program since its establishment in 2012.
The group of enthusiastic teachers then proceeded for lunch before cleaning 200 meters stretch of beach.
FOSTER has in fact, during early March, re-launched a year-long community beach cleaning project whereby local Libaran villagers are paid through sponsorship money, to clean the beach of Libaran on a year-long basis.
The teachers helped out on the areas which were not covered within the community beach cleaning. After completing their 200-meter cleaning, Harun then showed the teachers around Taman Hadiah, the turtle hatchery set up on Libaran Island.
They were briefed on the set-up of the hatchery and how the turtle conservation program operates. They also learned how to set up a nest for the turtles in the event that they have to transfer the eggs.
After dinner, they were treated to a video on the life cycle of a turtle. Lights went out early that evening as the teachers waited around for a turtle to come ashore to lay eggs.
A turtle actually came ashore about 2am, reached the land and but returned to the ocean without laying eggs.
The next day, the teachers continued with their cleaning work which also included getting the “turtle hospital” ready. This is at sector one of the beach area and by far, it is an area with the most turtle landings. They got the place “ready” by clearing the sand bank and pulling any grass on it.
That evening, Alexander Yee, president of FOSTER entered Libaran and joined them for the evening dinner. After dinner, he shared with them the challenges he has faced during the set up and the future plans. The teachers were responsive with many asking lots of questions to Alexander.
Mrs Fazidah Abdul Pirus, the group leader for this trip and from SMK Batu Sapi, said that she felt blessed to have the opportunity to join the program.
“This is my first experience cleaning up a beach and learning about turtle hatching. By doing the activities, I believe that we have contributed something, if not much to our environment.
“Also, it is an interesting experience to share with my students. Most of my students never heard of Libaran Island and know very little about the conservation program,” she added.
She believed it is important to expose the future generation with conservation knowledge and that the students should have an opportunity to participate in such program.
The group of teachers left after two nights, enriched by the experiences. They vowed to return again.