Beachgoers abuzz over rare turtle landing in Tanjung Bungah

GEORGE TOWN: There was a buzz of excitement in Tanjung Bungah recently when a large turtle was spotted laying eggs on the beach between Rainbow Paradise Hotel and Dalat International School.

In a Facebook post shared by the Tanjung Bungah Residents Association, several beachgoers were seen taking in the rare sight and filming the incident, said to have taken place on Wednesday (Dec 23) morning.

The Fisheries Department's Turtle Conservation and Information Centre was soon alerted to the incident, PenangToday reported.

In the pictures and videos shared publicly on social media, several officers came by in the afternoon of the same day to retrieve about 70 eggs and take them back to the centre.

Turtle landings along the beach in Tanjung Bungah are almost unheard of as the animals' "preferred" spots in Penang are mostly in Pantai Kerachut, Teluk Ketapang and Teluk Kampi, all within the Penang National Park in Teluk Bahang.