Poached eggs: Thieves clean out turtle nests in Labuan Marine Park

LABUAN (Bernama): Climate change is not the main reason sea turtles are struggling to survive; actually, people eating their eggs are a bigger problem.

At least 14 turtle nests outside the turtle hatchery in the Labuan Marine Park were plundered this year, presumably by poachers collecting the eggs to sell to consumers.

Labuan Marine Park director, Anuar Deraman, said the number of nests that were plundered last year was also 14, while in 2016 it was 21.

Other factors affecting the survival of turtles are an increase in oil rigs being erected close to the park, as well as uncontrolled fishing.

“The glaring lights of oil rigs disorientate the turtles that come to the park at night to lay their eggs,” Anuar said.

He said this year, 914 eggs hatched and 735 baby turtles were released into the wild from the park. 

In the past seven years, 15,025 eggs have been hatched and 13,543 baby turtles released from the Rusukan Besar hatchery.

This year, only hawksbill turtles have nested at the protected islands of Kuraman (423 eggs), Rusukan Besar(327 eggs) and Rusukan Kecil(164 eggs). – Bernama