Leatherback turtles return to Terengganu after nine years
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In Terengganu, Malaysia, leatherback turtles have returned to nest after a nine-year gap, beginning with a sighting on September 1.
Since then, five nesting events have occurred along the coast, yielding a total of 313 eggs. Fisheries department officials collected the eggs and moved them to the Rantau Abang Turtle Conservation and Information Centre (TCIC) for protection. The department cautioned that the five landings may not represent five different turtles, as individuals can nest multiple times in a single season.
Experts will monitor the eggs, which typically incubate for 55 to 70 days, expecting the first hatchings between October 26 and November 10. Previous nesting attempts in 2017 failed to produce viable offspring due to unfertilised eggs. The return of these turtles is particularly meaningful for Rantau Abang, a location once famous for turtle sightings and the associated tourism. Authorities are asking the public and local businesses to help protect the nesting sites by minimizing disturbance and light pollution.
