Olive Ridley turtles return to Penang to lay eggs after four years

GEORGE TOWN, March 18 (Bernama) -- The Penang Fisheries Department has reported that the Olive Ridley sea turtles, scientifically known as Lepidochelys Olivecia, have returned to lay their eggs on the beach near the Teluk Bahang near here, yesterday, after a lapse of four years.

Its director Yazeereen A Bakar said the department received reports from the public about the presence of the newly-hatched baby sea turtles, along the beaches of Hotel Angsana in Teluk Bahang, yesterday.

“A team from the Fisheries Conservation and Protection Division was immediately dispatched to the beach and discovered 110 newly-hatched baby sea turtles.

”All the baby sea turtles were relocated to the Kerachut Beach Turtle Conservation Centre here for further care before they are released back to the sea,”  she said in a statement today.

She said that the department would like to thank the public for reporting the presence of sea turtles along the beaches in the state.

Yazeereen also expressed hope that with similar efforts and good cooperation, the species of turtle, which has risked becoming extinct, can be preserved to ensure the sustainability of the population.

She added that Penang is one of the states popular with the presence of sea turtles in Malaysia, apart from Pahang and Terengganu.

“However, the landing trend for Leatherback and Olive Ridley turtles in Malaysia and Penang has been decreasing, because of natural and human threats.

“The last time Olive Ridley turtles returned to lay eggs along the beaches in Penang was in 2019, about four years ago,” she added.

-- BERNAMA