HWW training in Kudat

17th - 20th March 2010

Thanks to WWF, Mataking The Reef resort able to have one of the resort staff to participate in the Honarary Wildlife Warden (Warden Hidupan Liar Kehormat) training at Kudat. This training was organized by WWF Kudat and Sabah Wildlife Department SWD (Jabatan Hidupan Liar Sabah) aims to train the local community around Sabah (esp in Kudat and including few representative from Lahad Datu and Semporna) to protect the wildlife in own locality with authority given by government (Wildlife enactment).

Together with WWF Semporna marine species officer, Mr. Gavin Jolis, Mataking representative Amelia (that's me!!) launch the trip to Kudat on the 17th. This participation not only aims to train us to become HWW but to identify steps and measures to organize HWW training for local community in Semporna and Mataking in months to come.

Sabah Wildlife Department officer during our registration

Semporna representatives (Gavin - in black jacket and Lia - in red jacket) listen attentively to presentation 

The HWW training was conducted at Kudat Library together with Bengkel Kepimpinan dan tanggungjawab alam sekitar attended by the youth in Kudat area.These youth were encouraged to join our HWW training class to enhance their knowledge too. The participation of these youth has made the class livelier=)

After opening ceremony on 18th March by Mr. Auguestine Tuuga (Timbalan Pengarah JHL) and Mr. Kenneth Kassem ( SSME Malaysia Project Manager), we have whole day theory class with Mr Mohd Soffian, Mr Augustine Tuuga and Mr Jimli Perigin on various topic regarding HWW in law perspective. At night time, Gavin and I join in the Turtle Hatchery management talk by Irwan from Sabah Park aims for the youth.

Mr. Mohd Soffian  

                                            

Mr Augustine Tuuga

                                            

Mr. Jimli Perigin 

Group picture for HWW participants and trainers

On 19th March morning, we departed to Kampung Berungus for HWW practical training and turtle hatchery management training for the youth. Although there's a bit of delay due to transportation problem, overall the both training are of a success. For HWW training, we have role play of the situation that we might face in future as HWW and each team was evaluated on how their perform and given advice to improve the skills. Final paper examination was conducted at night and the training session finally ends.

Waiting patiently for the boat to pick up the HWW participants at Kudat jetty

That's the Berungus island!!

                                    

Miss Sophia patiently entertain everyone while waiting for the VIPs arrival

The house that accommodate us in Berungus

                                    

Turtle hatchery training by Johny (the one with white cap and white shirt)

                                    

Divide into 4 groups for the role play - this is my group (Penyu) with Mr. Jimli 

paper exam to become HWW 

The closing ceremony on 20th is conducted at Kudat Golf & Marina Resort with motivational talk by Datuk Hassan Alban, followed by talk from Mr. Augustine and YB Teo Chee Kang. Participation certification was given out and group photos were taken before the entire training officially ended.

The VIPs for the closing ceremony

                                      

Grab the chance to take final pic with Mr. Jimli Perigin

As usual, a happy group photo before bye bye

~THE END~

Snorkeling guide training

22nd - 23rd March 2010

Mataking staffs were given opportunity to be trained as professional PADI snorkeling guide training by our very own The Reef Dive Center manager cum PADI instructor, Stanio Simbi during the 2 days course conducted in Mataking Island. The purpose of this training is to assess and enhance the quality of snorkeling guide in accordance to the 5 star PADI dive center reputation that we have. 

Throughout the 2 days course, there are a total of 23 participants attending. Stanio or known as Neo, start the theory class on before snorkeling briefing (including mask, snorkel and life jacket function and adjustment & snorkel site briefing), emergency procedure (including treating injuries and breathing related emergency ie use of oxygen tank) and all the participants have to demonstrate once for the instructor to give mark. A simple talk on eco-snorkeling by Lia, marine biologist for Mataking also conducted to ensure that all our snorkel guide are eco-minded while bringing people for snorkeling. 

                                                             

patiently demonstrate the use of mask by our instructor

                                         

The class attended by 23 students

After the theory class, all the participants jumped in the water and start the swimming test. The next day, we continue to more swimming, snorkeling and skin dive test. And finally left only 15 participants who completed the whole course and will be given certification by the resort!! Everyone enjoy the learning process and congratulation to all who passed!!

    

                                           

Demostration of CPR 

                                          

Boat briefing before heading for skin dive test

Tired snorkeler

Great HORRRAAAYY after completion of the snorkeling guide course!

Hopefully with the completion of this course, our snorker guide in Mataking The Reef Dive Resort will be able to give a more professional and fun service to all our snorker guest! =) 

THE END

Coconut crab project (part 3)

Here comes part 3 =p

Team that excitedly showing their 03 CC! Mamat, Mohd Amin, Nic, Madzlan, Ateng, Mohd Khamis & photograher (Ambo)

05 CC found by us! Mumi, Ezwan, M. Amin, Aldon & lia

Finally, brave lia finally have the courage to hold the mighty coconut crab!! huhu!!

The journey of coconut searching continues till 24th march with total finding of 13 coconut crab, 4 release in mataking kecil and 1 being send for specimen. We sacrifice our beloved coconut crab for good reason, though some ppl might not agree with it. It's for education purpose and so that all guest who came to Mataking will have the chance to at least see with their own eyes the magnificient creature and treasure it. Most of th people around the globe don't even have chance to see coconut crab with their own eyes until they came here... 

Habitat destruction (actually cause by human also) leaves impact to this animal. We try our best to preserve it, to make sure that people get educated on the impact of overconsumption of exotic species. 

Thank you for the dedicated team volunterary help in this research!

Last but not least, relocation program of coconut crab 

THE END

Coconut crab project (part 2)

It has been fruitless for the first 2 night =(

Finally, we found our very first coconut crab on the 3rd night at Transect 2!! yippie! 

Our very first coconut crab labelled with 01 at the thorax

First group team mate - Aktar, Mazlan and Jijul 

*note: Aktar sucking his finger because in his first time life-ever attempt to hold the coconut crab, he got a really painful pinch from the crab XD

Me in the middle =p *still not willing to get hold of the coconut crab =.="

Also joining us in our attempt - the busy body cicak kubin XD

The second coconut crab found!

Who say never see coconut crab climb tree! And it's a champ in climbing! Really cool~~

See how high it climb...

At the end of the 4th night (02 was found), we also release 62 of our baby turtles about 11pm at night! 

~The End of Part 2 ~

coconut crab project (part 1)

After training in Sipadan Island by Sabah Park on coconut crab research in January, FINALLY we came to have our own research in MATAKING!! HUHU!!   

                                      

Group photo with the 'lovely' Sabah park staffs, special thanks to Nasrul (who's not there but arrange everything for us!!)

Initially plan to start coconut crab project in Feb, but the schedule was too pack for anyone to participate due to peak tourist season in Mataking Island. Thus we postponed, and finally start in MARCH 2010!

We start with a workshop conducted by the marine biologist, Amelia who briefly introduce on the biology aspect of the coconut crab and the research method to the interested staffs on the 01 March.( Ohya! Our landscape workers, security and some housekeeping staffs are important element in success of this project! wiithout them, there's no coconut crab project!!)

So after the class, we start to prepare the trail for the night tracking. Landscape Ateng, Jijul, Nazmel and Mamat who has together with me, clear the jungle off for a suitable route to walk at night time. We even being chased by a whole big group of bees and ran from the middle of jungle out to the sea! It's tiring, but its really fun=)

Ateng, the best right hand man i ever find in coconut crab and turtle work in Mataking Island.. Full of passion for the work! Never complaint, and willing to spend his time!!

It looks easy to set up transect but it actually takes up a lot of time, effort & cooperation, good job boys =)

We took about 3 days to finally settle with the transect setting, and the night coconut crab 'hunting' begins!! 

Seagrass assessment

28th Feb 2010, a perfect day for us to conduct our very first seagrass assessment training by our pretty WWF representative Miss Nina Ho and handsome macho Gavin Jolis!! We're so grateful that they're willing to travel sooooo far (Titanic scene almost occur) and to be under the sun just to work with us! Together with 10 representative from Mataking including me (lia) and Sally from Pom-Pom, we have son much fun working under the bright shinny sunday noon=)

We begin with classroom presentation entitle " seagrass and seaturtle" by Gavin Jolis to have brief introduction on the relationship between seagrass and sea turtle. Since most of our participants are turtle patrol team, it's a good lesson for them to learn (Good job Gavin!). Follow by 'latihan pengajian memantau rumput laut' by Nina showing the practical part of conducting the seagrass assessment. Everyone enjoy the fun fun time in the air-con room before we move out to the real 'war zone' - the beach....

                                  

the boys & Sally listen to the presentation with full concentration! wow~

Our handsome presenter & Mataking frequent visitor - Mr. gavin Jolis 

Marine biologist can be pretty too! This is one example of pretty M. B - Nina Ho (hehehe..=p)

The materials used in conducting seagrass assessment! Thank you WWF for giving us one set free=)

Seriously doing their job ni...

A: "Susahnyer... so confused... which one is which one ni... "

B: "Entahlah... i pun tak tau, nanti kita tunggu kakak cantik tu datang, hehe.." 

(This is the very very last group to finish =p)

wah.. look all the same..

we have 6 transect each of 50 meter long seaward =) 

So, as usual happy group photo session each pose happily with given certificate to end the day with!

(Ohya, forget to mention, and a very simple yet delicious lunch, haha... betul?)

Okay, that's the end of the very first report of our seagrass program! hope that we can continue to do seagrass monitoring on our own after the teaching by WWF representative! (yeah, of course hope that all of us in Mataking still remember how to conduct the assessment, no more pretty kakak to help ni...XD)

Till next time=)