Malaysia considers cloning rare turtles
Malaysia is considering cloning the rare leatherback turtle in an attempt to save the animal from possible extinction. The Malaysia Fisheries Department cloning programme could cost $9 billion over the next five years.
But many scientists question the project. To date no reptile has ever been successfully cloned. There are also questions about the health of cloned animals. The money could, they argue, be better spent on conservation work.
[Via Yahoo! News]
Director-General Junaidi Che Ayub explained their motivation: "The number of leatherbacks is decreasing every year. Even though some of them have returned to our shores to nest, their eggs are not fertile and do not hatch."
The turtle's decline is attributed to a variety of human factors including shoreline development, fishing, pollution and the stealing of the rare turtle's eggs.
I'm not sure about this project, but i never support cloning in any sense. If Malaysia can consider cloning(expensive) to prevent the species from extinction,why not they breed them? Or come out with a better way to protect them.
Posted by: Eddison Wong | July 20, 2007 9:58 AM