Cherating Turtle Sanctuary
Turtle Sanctuary (Santuari Penyu) is located just beside Asia's first Club Med in Cherating, Pahang.
This centre was established in the year 1972 as a turtle hatchery in an effort to protect the endanger species in particular the Leatherback Turtle.
It was opened to the public in June, 1st 1998.
Situated at the Chendor Beach or Pantai Chendor, this centre helps to ensure the survival of the turtles that land here to lay eggs during the months from April to August.
You are allowed to come here during the night and the centre will alert you if there are turtles that come up the shore to lay eggs.
It also acts as an information centre to educate the public about turtles and the need to protect them.
In total, there are 7 species of marine turtles in the world and 4 of these species land and lay their eggs on Malaysian beaches.
They are the Leatherback Turtle, Green Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle and Olive Ridley Turtle.
Over the years, the number of Leatherback turtles that come to the shore of Malaysia has dwindled and you will not be able to see any of them coming here now.
The reasons are because of the poachers who came to take the eggs away for commercial reason, abused of the turtles from the public and the pollution.
Exhibits
Besides acting as a place where you can wait at the benches in the night, the Cherating Turtle Sanctuary also has many exhibits for you to explore.
There are information on the different types of turtles, their habitat, food and the location where they can be found in Malaysia and in particular, the state of Pahang.
There are also graphs and statistics on the number of turtles that come here.
It was reported a few years ago that the number of green turtles that came here has increased from 160 for the year 2006 to 288 for the year 2008.
This shows that the turtles conservation programme is bearing fruit and should be continued.
Apart from information on turtles, you will be able to see many exotic and nice sea shells that are on displayed at the main exhibition hall.
Big corals are also aplenty here.
Hatchlings Programme
You will be able to see the turtle hatchlings that the centre is involved in.
These turtles will be kept here until they are old enough to be released into the sea during the night.
When handling a hatchling for release, please do so with utmost care and let it trot on the beach first rather than releasing it right into the sea.
It is believed that when a hatchling trots on the beach for the first time, it will always remember the beach and identify it as home even after travelling far and wide.
It is said that one turtle, which was tagged, and which has travelled as far as Japan had come back home to Cherating after some 15 years just to lay eggs.
Visting Hours
Exhibits
Tuesday to Sunday: 9.30 am to 4.30 pm
(The centre is closed on Monday and Public Holiday)
Visiting the centre is Free of Charge.
Night Visiting Hours
Monday to Sunday: 7.30 pm to 7.30 am
The programme during the night include turtle watching, releasing the hatchlings to the sea and the turtle hatching programme.
For more information, you can call the centre at +60 9581 9087.
Getting There
If you are coming from Kuantan, follow the direction to Kemamam/Kuala Terengganu towards Cherating by using the scenic coastal highway route No. 3.
You will see the signage that takes you to Club Med and Cherating Turtle Sanctuary.
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Now it's time to play geocachers!
In fact, you'll just have to enter the center, walk through the exhibition hall, to finally reach the outside where you'll be able to see some turtles and hatchlings.
From this point, if you look around you, you should see an old stuffed turtle inside a huge glass case.
What you're looking for is not hidden around that case but behind the wall that is facing it, under the kampung house (
Spoiler 01).
As you can imagine, this place is widely exposed and you'll have to be very vigilant with the muggles that are visiting the center.
But be patient and wait for the good moment... as I want this cache to stay for long, try to be as stealthy as you can!
With the picture I'm giving you right now (
Spoiler 02), you should need only a few seconds to grab the cache.
After this, if you don't want to be seen, you should hide yourself in the toilets to log your visit... but this is just one suggestion.
Now, don't forget to read the hints if you need more help and it only remains for me to say to you...
Good luck geocachers!
PS : It's always pleasant to see a picture (or more) in the logs... 