The Aporia
In Malaysia’s Sabah state, a group of volunteers is combating the illegal trade of protected turtles by monitoring poachers. Roziah Jelali, a 36-year-old Malaysian volunteer ranger, spent three months tracking an individual suspected of capturing and selling endangered turtles for their meat. Patrolling Omadal Island daily from dawn, Roziah meticulously documented the poacher’s movements with binoculars and notes. Her efforts were supported by a network of part-time conservationists on nearby islands. This volunteer work highlights the grassroots effort to protect turtle populations in Sabah, where many turtles have been hunted down and killed illegally.