Eggs have always been considered as one of the essential parts of the human diet. They are considered one of the best sources of protein and adding them into your daily life adds a lot of nutrients to the body.
However, generally, when we talk about including eggs in our diet, we talk about chicken eggs. But, in Sabah, turtle eggs are in large demand. The demand isn't for hatching the eggs, people love to consume these eggs as well as sea turtles.
According to an official of the Sabah Wildlife Department, consumption of sea turtles, as well as their eggs, is completely banned in the sabah.
However, several people are involved in this illegal activity.
The director of the wildlife department said that they are trying their level best to stop the consumption of sea turtles and their eggs but some " Powerful People" consider themselves above the law and they consume these protected species with ease.
He also mentioned that special parties are held in Sabah where these " special guests" are served sea turtles and their eggs as lunch or dinner and they are trying their level best to stop such activities.
The people who perform this illegal activity are relatives of powerful people and hence it's hard to take legal action against them.
The director of the wildlife department said that he wasn't aware of a video that surfaced recently on Instagram that showed relatives of celebrity Noor Neelofa who were having sea turtle eggs on their visit to Sabah.
He said that no complaints have been lodged about the said incident and hence no action can be taken.
He was adamant about telling our reporters that it was a custom of the past to allow local citizens to hunt down sea turtles for their consumption but now it is prohibited and banned to do so.
All in all, we can say that, although on paper the consumption of sea turtles and their eggs is prohibited and banned in Sabah, the reality is far different from it and people are still having it and putting this beautiful species under threat of extinction.
