Jose Hong Straits Times 29 Sep 18;
SINGAPORE - The Republic's first turtle hatchery opened at the Sisters' Island Marine Park on Saturday (Sept 29), allowing conservationists to better protect rare sea turtles which have been increasingly sighted here.
The National Parks Board's (NParks) Dr Karenne Tun said 38 nests have been recorded on Singapore's shores this nesting season, which lasts from around May to October. There are between 120 and 180 eggs in each nest.
By chance, 16 hawksbill turtles hatched at the facility on the morning of the launch. They were later released into the sea.
The hatchery comprises two sections: An incubation sand pit area, where trained volunteers and staff take care of eggs as they incubate, and a turtle field station that provides volunteer training, educational and research programmes, and other hatchery-related activities.
NParks said the facility is located on Small Sister's Island because it sits between East Coast Park and the other Southern Islands, the two areas where most turtle nesting activities have been recorded since 2005.
Staff and volunteers will transport eggs found across Singapore to the incubation sandpit if their original sites are not suitable, said Dr Tun, who is the director for coastal and marine at the National Biodiversity Centre.
At other sites, turtles may lay their nests in places with high human footfall that could threaten the eggs.
Turtle eggs in the incubation sandpit area where trained volunteers and staff take care of them as they incubate. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
The nesting site at the hatchery uses high-tech systems such as a Bluetooth water level detector that can tell if seawater is entering the nests; a temperature sensor; and a motion trigger camera that can tell when the turtles are emerging from the sand.
The incubation area consists of three metal cages that protect the eggs from predators, and they can hold up to four nests each.
A hawksbill turtle, which laid 99 eggs on Sept 2 on a Sisters' Island beach, has had its nest relocated to one of the cages. The eggs are due to hatch around Oct 26.
Speaking at the launch of the hatchery, Second Minister for National Development Desmond Lee said: "Aside from already being a popular nesting spot, Small Sister's Island is a protected area within the Sisters' Island Marine Park that is zoned for conservation and research.
"This limits the disturbance to the nests caused by human traffic and light pollution. It also helps to maximise the number of hatchlings that are able to make it out to sea."
Singapore is home to two species of turtles, both of which are at high risk of extinction.
The hawksbill turtle, which is most commonly seen around the Republic's coasts, is critically endangered. The green turtle, which is much less encountered, is endangered.
NParks already monitors the various nests around the country, such as the one where the eggs had hatched on Pulau Satumu last Tuesday (Sept 25), but it said the public will be able to learn how to take care of these nests and eggs at the hatchery through a volunteer training programme.
Called the Biodiversity Beach Patrol, it will teach participants how to protect nesting turtles and how to move eggs safely, for instance.
Volunteer Lisa Lim was at the hatchery's launch on Saturday and preparing the baby turtles for their maiden journey into the sea.
"Many people don't think that Singapore has sea turtles, but volunteering gives you the chance to see them and really understand what we have," said the science teacher, who volunteers weekly.
"This hatchery gives us the chance to share why we need to conserve turtles, why they're so vulnerable and how we can sustain their population," said Ms Lim, 48.
NParks will announce new training dates by the end of 2018, but those interested in the Biodiversity Beach Patrol can read more here.
Over 300 endangered turtles hatch in Singapore
AFP Yahoo News 28 Sep 18;
More than 300 hawksbill turtles have hatched on beaches in Singapore this month and been released into the sea, authorities said Friday, in a boost for the critically endangered creatures.
They hatched on three beaches across the tropical Southeast Asian country, according to the National Parks Board, which oversees parks and nature reserves.
Over 100 turtles hatched on Sentosa Island, a popular tourist destination, according to the organisation that manages the island. After their nest was discovered in July, a barrier was erected around the site to protect it from monitor lizards and crabs
It was the fourth time since 1996 that eggs of the critically endangered turtles have hatched on Sentosa.
The other turtle nests were discovered at a beach on the east coast and on Satumu island south of the Singapore mainland, the parks board said. A total of 321 turtles hatched over a 10-day period from September 15.
Hawksbills get their names from their narrow pointed beaks and are found throughout the world's tropical oceans, mainly around coral reefs.
They are threatened by damage to their natural habitats from pollution and coastal developments, and are also targeted by poachers.
Their body parts are used to make turtle soup and their shells are crushed into powder for use in jelly dessert. The Hawksbill shell is also used to make products like combs and ornamental hairpins.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the turtles as critically endangered.
