BALIK PULAU: Green turtles are back to lay eggs here, but the rapidly increasing human activity along the beach is posing a serious threat to their survival.
Despite global efforts to protect and conserve sea turtles, the population has declined significantly due to human activities, which have a significant impact on their nests and hatchlings.
Last year, a single wild boar wreaked havoc at the Turtle Conservation and Information Centre in Pantai Kerachut, destroying 12 precious turtle egg nests, each containing 80 to 160 eggs.
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The boar was lured to the beach by food discarded by visitors, and once it caught the scent of the nests, it didn’t hesitate to feast, consuming 30% to 40% of the eggs.
Turtle ranger Muhamad Ezzat Hidayat Elias said wild boars and monitor lizards pose the biggest threat to conservation efforts despite the nesting area being guarded by the Turtle Conservation and Information Centre.
“Usually, wild boars will come out when they smell food left on the beach by visitors. When they get a whiff of the nests, they will dig them up and consume 30% to 40% of the eggs.”
In the process, the wild boars will destroy the nests, leaving little chance for the other eggs to incubate, he said.
“Once they find a nest, they will continue to look for more nests.”
Muhamad Ezzat said monitor lizards are not as bad compared to wild boars, as they only consume a few eggs and do not destroy the nests.
“Cleanliness plays a big role in ensuring the wild boars do not come to the beach to look for food,” he said.
“Global warming is another factor as it is causing beach erosion. The lesser the beach area, the fewer spots suitable for turtles to nest, like in Batu Ferringhi.”
The endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is characterised by its flat streamlined wide, rounded shell and paddle-like flippers for their forelimbs.
Green turtles are the largest of the hard-shelled sea turtles, but have a comparatively small head.
A typical adult is one metre to 1.2m long and weighs 136kg to 158kg.
They have dark brown, grey, or olive coloured shells and a much lighter, yellow-to-white underside.
They do not have the ability to retract their head into their shell.
Green turtles are a common sight in Malaysia’s coastal waters and can be found nesting on beaches in Terengganu, Penang and Sabah.
In Penang, green turtles play an important role in controlling the jellyfish population.
Muhamad Ezzat said sea pollution, alongside human activities, has contributed to the decline in turtle nesting here.
Data from 1990 to 2024 shows that water pollution went up by 70%, he said, adding that back in the 90s, according to the workers there, two or three turtles would lay eggs almost every night.
The numbers have declined, he said, but they need time to assess the full extent, as it takes 20 years for turtles to mature and start laying eggs.
Muhamad Ezzat said turtles lay eggs between the ages of 20 and 60, but only every three to four years.
During that year, they can nest five to nine times, with each nest containing 80 to 160 eggs.
“This means one turtle can lay up to 1,000 eggs. In nature, only one or two of those eggs typically survive, but thanks to conservation efforts, around 100 can make it,” he said.
He said while Penang has 13 beaches, green turtles prefer Pantai Kerachut due to its controlled tourism, unlike other beaches with hotels and water sports.
“The conservation centre closes early, and there are restrictions in place.
“The sand also makes nesting easier while the abundance of jellyfish provides plenty of food for the turtles.”
Penang National Park superintendent Tan Poai Ean said this year, 22 nests from about seven turtles were found, a positive sign after last year’s decline.
“It’s peak season now, and turtles are coming almost every week, with February being a particularly busy month,” she said.
In 2022, there were 55 turtle landings (26 mothers) with 4,849 eggs and 2,537 hatchlings.
In 2023, turtle landings peaked at 72 (24 mothers) with 6,830 eggs and 5,168 hatchlings.
However, in 2024, landings dropped significantly with just 12 (four mothers), 1,029 eggs and 843 hatchlings.
“Nesting patterns vary with the weather, and there was a notable dip in nests last year, a trend seen worldwide, not just in Malaysia,” Tan said.
