KUALA NERUS: A total of 757,869 baby turtles were successfully hatched and released into the sea in Terengganu last year.
According to Fisheries director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain, the Terengganu Turtle Management and Conservation Programme recorded 13,180 green sea turtle nests and successfully collected and incubated 1.07 million eggs last year.
He said the programme recorded an encouraging hatching success rate of 71.07%, reflecting the effectiveness of conservation and incubation initiatives undertaken by the authorities.
“Every hatchling that successfully returns to the sea represents renewed hope for the survival of this species. It also serves as an important indicator of the health of the marine ecosystem that we collectively inherit and strive to preserve,” he told reporters after the release of 570 baby turtles at the Pulau Redang Marine Park in conjunction with World Oceans Day 2026, themed “Protect the Sea, Sustain Fisheries”, Bernama reported.
Adnan said Terengganu continues to be the country’s primary nesting ground for green turtles, with key nesting sites located at Chagar Hutang beach and Pasir Panjang beach on Pulau Redang; Rantau Abang beach in Dungun; as well as Geliga beach and Ma’Daerah beach in Kemaman.
In addition to green turtles, the programme also recorded 308 leatherback turtle nests and 23 hawksbill turtle nests over the past year.
Meanwhile, Wildlife and National Parks Department director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said a total of 32 wildlife specimens, comprising mammals, birds and birds of prey, were released in conjunction with the World Oceans Day celebration.
The release involved 22 jungle fowl, four woodcocks, two porcupines and four eagles from three species – the red-backed sea eagle, changeable hawk eagle and white-bellied sea eagle.
