First Turtle Hatchlings of Kg. Berungus!

Posted by: Sofia Johari

On the 8th February 2010 while we were in WWF-Malaysia Borneo head office, and while we were having our quarterly review on the progress of our work in the proposed Tun Mustapha Park, I received a call from Asri (our staff in the Kudat field office) informing me about the first batch of relocated turtle hatchlings in Berungus have emerged after 65 days of incubation! It was a pleasently distracting news. Everyone are excited about this new development on the conservation effort being done in Kg. Berungus. We decided to release the baby turtles the next day when the tide is high and when Irwan and most of the team members are in Kudat. All photos are credited to Irwanshah Mustapha.

Firts batch of turtle hatchlings emerging!

43 hatclings of the first batch of the first relocated nest.

The hatchlings are of Green turtle (Chelonia mydas). According to the Kg. Berungus communitys' log book, the initial number of eggs are 119 eggs, firts batch only 43 hatched. The 2nd day 5 hatched and will have to wait a few more days for more to emerge. (note: the first & second relocated nests were relocated before WWF organized the turtle hatchery management training). It will be interesting to see the difference in results before and after the training.

The WWF team and the villagers releasing the hatclings

The youths in Berungus have been trained on the proper way of handling and releasing turtle hatchlings. With the supervision of WWF team members, the youths released the hatchlings into the sea on the 9th February 2010.

Deep in thought....

The young generation of Berungus witnessing the beginning of cycle of life of a turtle...

Relocation of turtle eggs in Kg. Berungus is needed as the community from the surrounding areas are still active in poaching turtle eggs for consumption and selling. WWF and the Berungus community with the advice from the Wildlife Department of Sabah will work on the establishment of a proper sea turtle hatchery at Kg. Berungus. Apart from protecting the sea turtles population, the hatchery will serve the purpose of increasing awareness and appreciation for sea turtles and its' habitat around the area.

Smelling the fresh smell of seawater....

I see, hear and smell the sea...

Charge!!!! Sea here I come!

Touchdown...

Hermond recording the last of the hatclings to enter the sea.

Have a great and save journey! And please do come back!

This is a great start for turtle consrvation effort in the Northern Part of Sabah. This is also a good example of communitys' effort in taking care of the natural resources in their area. Hope the released turtles will survive to maturity and come back to lay eggs in Berungus.