SEA TURTLES LAYING EGGS DURING DAY LIGHT

 Friday May 27/2016

BY: SONTOLOYO KONTOLEH

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The honorary wildlife wardens of Taman Hadiah turtle hatchery on Pulau Libaran have been getting unexpected visitors during the last two mornings.

At 11am on 24^th May, a green turtle came ashore to sector 2 of the island and laid 80 eggs.

At 8am on 25^th May, a green turtle came ashore and again to sector 2 and laid 61 eggs.

This is a new phenomenon and it has not occurred since Taman Hadiah turtle hatchery was set up 3 years ago.

Mr. James Ahlin, the advisor to FOSTER (Friends of Sea Turtles Research and Education) says that sea turtles, green or hawksbill or even leartherback have been reported to nest or lay eggs during day time throughout the world. In fact, olive ridley lay eggs during the day and all at once!

Mr. Harun William, the honorary wildlife warden who has been with Taman Hadiah turtle hatchery since it started has experienced hawksbill turtles coming ashore to lay eggs on 3 occasions before. But that was one over years ago.

“On three occasions I have seen hawksbill coming ashore to lay eggs before but that was more than a year ago and I have not seen any green turtle coming ashore during day time before. I am not sure why this is happening,” says Harun.

Taman Hadiah turtle hatchery is part of a turtle conservation program made available through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sabah Wildlife Department. The program includes creating awareness for the locals and visitors on the conservation value of sea turtles, undertaking research projects with the goal of better understanding the life cycle of sea turtles surrounding the Libaran island area and to make available research programs on sea turtle for international and local students.

Since FOSTER started work on Libaran island, turtle landings on the island have seen a marked increased and during November 2011 till December 2015, 21,672 baby turtles have been released into the ocean from Taman Hadiah of which 14,851 are Green Turtles and 6,821 are Hawsbill Turtles.

Mr Alexander Yee, the president of FOSTER is encouraged by the incident. “Regardless if its green or hawksbill turtles, I am just glad sea turtles are coming ashore to lay their eggs. It is indeed encouraging to see an increased in eggs laying incidents. We will continue to be on Libaran to protect and conserve our seas turtle.”