Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar of Johor today launched a book on seahorses and its natural habitat at the Southern Region Marine Department in Gelang Patah.

The 133-page book entitled 'Seahorses-Heritage of Pristine Johor Straits' was written by Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) deputy vice-chancellor (research and innovation) Prof Dr Mohd Effendy Abd Wahid and UMT science officer C Thirukanthan.

Published by UMT, the book is the result of research on seahorses in Sungai Pulai, Gelang Patah, by the UMT Institute of Marine Biotechnology, Johor Biotechnology and Biodiversity Corporation (J-Biotech) and the leading developer of Forest City, Country Garden Pacificview Sdn Bhd (CGPV).

Also present at the launching were Johor Mentri Besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin, UMT vice-chancellor Prof Dr Nor Aieni Mokhtar and J-Biotech chief executive officer Wan Amir Jeffery Wan Abdul Majid.

Earlier, the sultan released 200 seahorses at Sungai Pulai ramsar site, which is a suitable location for seahorse sanctuary.

The site was recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) as 'Malaysia's First Sanctuary for Seahorses'.

- Bernama