KOTA KINABALU: Over a hundred new turtle hatchlings are expected in a few months after a protected Hawksbill turtle laid her eggs on an island near here.
The 105 eggs were laid at Manukan island at the Tunku Abdul Rahman park on Jan 30.
These eggs were collected and recorded by park ranger Muhammad Aliff Suhaimin, and relocated to the turtle hatchery near the Pulau Manukan office, where hundreds of other turtle eggs were also placed and waiting to hatch.
Sabah Parks recorded quite a number of turtle landings and eggs being laid over the past few months.
The park also saw a total of 51 hatchlings released into the sea from Manukan island on Dec 5 last year.
These came from a batch of eggs laid and later collected and recorded by park rangers last September.
Previously, Sabah Parks director Maklarin Lakim had said that turtle landings were extremely rare on Manukan island, but the situation changed during the Covid-19 pandemic due to the lack of human activities.
He had also mentioned the need for tighter enforcement of turtle protection laws in view of these increased landings and eggs being laid.
The consumption of turtle eggs or any part of this marine species is prohibited, but there are still many who eat their eggs or body parts illegally.
Turtle meat and eggs had been an exotic meal for many Sabahans before laws were drawn up to protect them.
