(On assignment for Photographers Without Borders)

Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia(TCS), an organization dedicated to protecting indigenous Kemaman River Terrapins, is located in the coastal town of Chukai, in the southern part of the state of Terengganu.  Known as a hub for offshore oil, this picturesque town is also famous for its diverse food-based tourism as well as its sea turtle conservation among Malaysians and foreigners alike. However, while much of the spotlight is focusing on protecting the sea turtle population, terrapins have received far less attention. For many years this subspecies native to the Kemaman River that runs through the town did not consider an endangered species. It is through the tireless effort by the likes of  Dr. Pelf Nyok Chen(Pelf), the founder and the sole full-time staff of TCS, that the terrapin population has been saved from extinction. In June 2022, Kemaman River Terrapins, along with other indigenous freshwater turtles in Malaysia, were finally recognized by the government as an endangered species.