Public awareness of Setiu Wetlands important: WWF Malaysia

SETIU: The World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia) will continue to instil public awareness of the importance of preserving the Setiu Wetlands as a sanctuary and breeding area for various animal species.
Head of the WWF-Malaysia Setiu Wetlands Project, Ani Aiza Ashaari said it was crucial that the area be protected as a habitat for the river terrapin, the painted terrapin and turtles to prevent such species from extinction.
"Half of the Setiu district is wetlands, covering the Sungai Chalok, Sungai Bari and Sungai Merang basins which converge and form a continuous lagoon," she said.
She was speaking after organising an awareness briefing on the Setiu Wetlands to educators in the district here today.
More than 100 teachers from 13 secondary and 43 primary schools in Setiu took part in the programme.
Established as a national conservation trust on Jan 13, 1972, WWF-Malaysia began as a humble two person-organisation but today has close to 200 people working, right from Kedah to Sabah.
Also known as Tabung Alam Malaysia, WWF-Malaysia is governed by a Board of Trustees. – Bernama