DUNGUN: A leatherback turtle was spotted coming ashore to lay eggs at Pantai Jambu Bongkok, Marang, bringing the state’s total to four leatherback landings in the past month.
Fisheries Department director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain said a fisherman found the turtle at about 4am yesterday and alerted the Rantau Abang Turtle Conservation and Information Centre (TCIC), which received the report at 5.30am.
“The nest was excavated at 6am, with 70 eggs successfully retrieved before being transferred to the Rantau Abang TCIC hatchery.
“An inspection at the site also recorded a turtle track measuring about 2.17m wide,” he said in a statement.
He added that the discovery brought the total number of leatherback turtle eggs transferred for protection and incubation to 265 from four nests since Sept 1.
The first landing was recorded on Sept 1 at Pantai Pasir Puteh, Marang, where 44 eggs were collected. This was followed by a second landing on Sept 13 at Pantai Rantau Abang, which yielded 81 eggs, and a third on Sept 22 at Pantai Kuala Abang, with 70 eggs.
“The four landings recorded since September represent an important development in leatherback turtle conservation efforts in Terengganu,” he said, Bernama reported.
Adnan said the Rantau Abang TCIC now manages all four nests, with the eggs reburied at depths of between 80cm and 100cm to replicate conditions as closely as possible to those of natural nests.
He said the incubation period is estimated at between 55 and 70 days, depending on sand temperature and nest conditions.
He added that eggs from the first nest are expected to hatch between Oct 26 and Nov 10, the second between Nov 7 and Nov 22, the third between Nov 16 and Dec 1, and the fourth between Nov 25 and Dec 10.
“Rantau Abang TCIC will monitor the condition of each nest regularly until the hatching process is complete,” he said, stressing that leatherback turtle conservation efforts require a coordinated approach involving scientific monitoring, nest management, enforcement and community participation, particularly among local communities and fishermen.
He also advised the public not to disturb or touch turtles that come ashore, but to report any sightings to the Fisheries Department immediately to allow it to take the necessary protection and conservation measures.
