Just a few days ago we reported that more than a hundred turtle eggs were found on the beaches of Port Dickson, and now we found out that people are selling turtle eggs online!
Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia alerted netizens in a tweet that has since gone viral, that there are irresponsible people selling authentic turtle eggs from Terengganu online.
Ya Allah! Musim PKP ini lah di mana banyak ibu penyu naik mendarat. Tapi jenis kita ni, nak je jual/beli semua telur penyu. Tak kisah lah, samada penyu hidup atau pupus. Biar makan dulu.
— Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (@TCSMsia) May 13, 2020
Kami harap @ShopeeMY menapis pelanggan mereka. Jangan sampai diboikot nanti.@DOF_Malaysia pic.twitter.com/Vuz7uKBVmp
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“During this MCO, where many female mothers have come to shore (to lay eggs), our kind wants to sell/buy all the turtle eggs. It doesn't matter if the turtles live or die. As long as we get to eat” they wrote in the tweet, before calling on the shopping platform to address the inhumane act, while also tagging the Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF).
In the picture attached, the seller was selling the turtle eggs for RM7.90 and had already sold 290 eggs, with 67 pieces still available. The seller even received a 5-star rating.
Photo: Twitter @TCSMsia
The tweet has received more than 2,000 retweets by netizens who are outraged and called for the ban on the sales of turtle eggs.
when are they going ban the sales of ALL sea turtle eggs throughout ALL states
— freyr (@sunfloweraidil) May 13, 2020
Wei. Macam la x cukup telur ayam atau itik yang ada dekat Malaysia ni sampai telur penyu pon nak makan! Geng2 ni nasib baik telur depa lekat dan xleh makan. Kalau tidak, habih la dua bijik yg dok ada tu. Haih.
— Mr. AlmostLover (@pisces_of_ed) May 13, 2020
One Twitter user even discovered that there are those who are selling them on Facebook, just by doing a quick search on the social media platform.
Even a quick search for “Telur Penyu” on FB you can get the results, this is saddening 😞 pic.twitter.com/7rTLQp8127
— Socially Distanced Sara (@theonlysaraaa) May 13, 2020
The Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia, in the reply section, actively urged all netizens to report any selling of turtle eggs online.
“Guys, please, don't buy and eat turtle eggs. There are many other things we can eat. Give our turtle eggs an opportunity to hatch, and for the turtles to grow and return to spawn,” they wrote.
Guys, sila lah, jangan beli dan makan telur penyu. Banyak lagi yang boleh dimakan.
— Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (@TCSMsia) May 13, 2020
Beri peluang kepada telur penyu kita untuk menetas, anak2 penyu membesar dan balik bertelur nanti.
Jom kita kembalikan simbolisme penyu kepada Terengganu dan Malaysia! @tourismtrg @DOF_Malaysia pic.twitter.com/nfidYmVNwi
Shopee Malaysia also issued a statement in response to the issue on its official Twitter account.
— Shopee Malaysia (@ShopeeMY) May 14, 2020
Shopee reassures Malaysians that they do not condone the sale of animal and wildlife products and have removed the listing and banned the seller, as well as blacklisted turtle eggs on their platform.
The DOF has also responded by thanking Shopee’s cooperation regarding this issue.
Thank you @ShopeeMY for your cooperation regarding this issue. We appreciate that. #SaveOurTurtles https://t.co/s1OgypazP4
— Jabatan Perikanan (@DOF_Malaysia) May 14, 2020
Let’s do our part and report any selling of turtle eggs online. #SaveOurTurtles
By: Siti Farhana Sheikh Yahya
