AWANG ALI OMAR New Straits Times 26 May 16;
SANDAKAN: Two turtle landings during the day has got wardens excited on Pulau Libaran off here.
On Tuesday, a green turtle came to shore at about 11am and laid 80 eggs, followed by another of the same species that came to lay 61 eggs at about 8am.
Friends of Sea Turtles Research and Education or FOSTER advisor James Ahlin said this was a new phenomenon and has not occurred since the Taman Hadiah turtle hatchery was set up on the island three years ago.
James said sea turtles, green or hawksbill or even leatherback have been reported to nest or lay eggs during the daytime but it is considered rare.
Harun William, the honorary wildlife warden who has been with the Taman Hadiah turtle hatchery since it started, has experienced hawksbill turtles coming ashore to lay eggs during the day three times over a year ago.
“I have not seen any green turtles coming ashore during the day before though,” Harun added.
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 increase in eggs laying incidents.
We will continue to be on Libaran to protect and conserve our sea turtles.”
Sabah hatchery welcomes first egg-laying turtles
RUBEN SARIO The Star 26 May 16;
KOTA KINABALU: The appearance of turtles coming ashore at a private hatchery on an island off the east coast Sandakan district has been a pleasant surprise for officials there.
This is the first time green turtles have come ashore during the day to lay their eggs since the Taman Hadiah hatchery in Pulau Libaran was set up three years ago.
The island's honourary wildlife warden Harun Willam said the first egg-laying occurred at about 11am on May 24 when a turtle deposited 80 eggs.
Another turtle came ashore at about 11am on the following day and laid 61 eggs, he said.
“I have not seen any green turtles coming ashore in the day time before. I am not sure why this is happening,” Harun said.
He said Hawksbill turtles laid eggs on the island’s beaches on three occasions nearly a year ago.
Friends of Sea Turtles Research and Education (Foster) adviser James Ahlin said that while it is generally known that sea turtles come ashore and lay eggs at night, the marine creatures have been known to do it during the day as well.
The Taman Hadiah hatchery is part of a turtle conservation programme carried out jointly by Foster and the Sabah Wildlife Department.
The programme includes creating awareness on the conservation of sea turtles, undertaking research projects to better understand the life cycle of sea turtles in the Libaran island area and making research programmes on sea turtles available for international and local students.
Since Foster started work on Pulau Libaran, turtle landings on the island have seen a marked increased while more than 21,600 hatchlings have been released between November 2011 and December last year. These comprise 14,851 green turtles and 6,821 Hawksbill turtles.
Foster president Alexander Yee said they were encouraged by the day-time appearance of the turtles.
“Whether green or Hawksbill turtles, I am just glad they are coming ashore to lay their eggs. We will continue to be on Libaran to protect and conserve our turtles,” he added.
Egg-citing time for turtle hatchery
RUBEN SARIO The Star 28 May 16;
KOTA KINABALU: Turtles coming ashore to lay eggs at a private hatchery on an island off the east coast of Sandakan have pleasantly surprised officials there.
It was the first time the green turtles have came ashore to lay eggs during the day since the Taman Hadiah hatchery at Pulau Libaran was set up three years ago.
The island’s honourary wildlife warden Harun Willam said the first time this happened was at about 11am on May 24 when a turtle laid 80 eggs.
Another turtle came ashore at about 11am the next day and laid 61 eggs.
“I have not seen any green turtle coming ashore at daytime before. I am not sure why this is happening,” Harun said.
He said since the hatchery was set up, hawksbill turtles had laid eggs on the island’s beaches on three occasions nearly a year ago.
Foster (Friends of Sea Turtles Research and Education) adviser James Ahlin said while sea turtles tend to come ashore and lay their eggs at night, the marine creatures have been known to do so during the day too.
The Taman Hadiah hatchery is a turtle conservation programme by Foster and the Sabah Wildlife Department.
The programme includes creating awareness for the locals and visitors about 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 programmes on sea turtles for international and local students.
Since Foster started work on Libaran island, there has been a marked increase in turtle landings. Between November 2011 and December 2015, more than 21,600 turtles hatchlings have been released.
These comprise 14,851 green turtles and 6,821 hawksbill turtles.
Foster president Alexander Yee said they were encouraged by the daytime appearance of the turtles.
“Whether they be green or hawksbill turtles, I am just glad they are coming ashore to lay their eggs. We will continue to be on Pulau Libaran to protect and conserve our turtles,” he added.
