A heartbreaking video circulating online has highlighted the severe impact of heavy holiday tourist traffic on marine life in Malaysia.
On Merdeka Day (31st August 2026), a video was posted by Threads user @tankuanchuen showing a dead sea turtle with a severely cracked shell washed ashore on the beaches of Pulau Redang, Terengganu.
A sadly common sight in Redang
In the video posted, the narrator expressed grief and frustration over the incident, noting that such occurrences have become a tragic norm on the island during peak travel periods.
It showed the turtle lying motionless on the sand with a massive crack across its carapace, exposing its inner flesh. A bystander wearing a marine protection shirt was seen taking photos of the deceased sea creature to document the incident.
Injury believed to be caused by boat strike
According to @tankuanchuen, the injury is believed to be the result of a boat strike caused by the sudden influx of holidaymakers and watercraft over the Merdeka long weekend.
“Day trippers, long weekend, many many boats… another boat strike happened, another dead turtle. When is this going to stop?” the narrator lamented.
However, it has not been independently confirmed what caused the turtle’s injuries. Pulau Redang is a popular holiday destination, particularly during long weekends and public holidays, when large numbers of tourists visit the island for its beaches and surrounding waters. With more visitors also comes increased boat activity, which can potentially pose a danger to marine animals swimming near the surface.
Sea turtles need to surface regularly to breathe and may also swim through shallow coastal waters, meaning encounters with boats can potentially result in serious or fatal injuries. The incident serves as a sobering reminder that the popularity of Malaysia’s beautiful island destinations also comes with a responsibility to protect the marine ecosystems that make them so attractive in the first place.
For tourists, boat operators and authorities alike, finding ways to balance tourism with marine conservation could help prevent more heartbreaking scenes like this from washing up on Malaysia’s shores.
Netizens’ comments:
“So sad, why did it come to that?”
What do you think should be done to better protect sea turtles around island resorts during peak holidays? Let us know in the comments!
