Dr. Chen Pelf Nyok

Dr. Chen Pelf Nyok

Scientist mom. Author. Coffee addict. Loves reading. Award-winning turtle scientist. TEDxKL speaker. Blessed and grateful. Never give up!
Dr. Chen Pelf Nyok

About Me

I am a freshwater turtle researcher and conservationist. My research interests are the biology and ecology of the river terrapins—a rare species of freshwater turtles only found in Southern Thailand, Cambodia and Peninsular Malaysia. In 2011, I co-founded Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (TCS), a non-profit and non-governmental organisation dedicated to freshwater turtle conservation in Malaysia. I conduct numerous Turtle Education Programmes (in-person as well as virtual tours) with school students as well as host Turtle Discovery Trips for members of the public and CSR programmes for corporate companies. I currently lead the community-based terrapin conservation project in Kemaman, and was recently awarded the Commonwealth Points of Light award from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for my turtle conservation efforts. In 2022, I co-authored a “Turtles of Malaysia” colouring book. I am also a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group.