Home in focus: A haven for turtles

Nearly 300 hatchlings at Sisters' Islands hatchery in its first year

A batch of 90 turtles had hatched at East Coast Park and was released at sea off Sisters' Islands Marine Park last Thursday. This is done so that baby turtles are less likely to encounter predators, which typically hang around the reef. Mr Tan creati
NParks manager Max Khoo, 26, measuring the depth of the incubation sandpit area at Sisters' Islands Marine Park in September last year, when the turtle hatchery was launched. He was aiming to replicate the depth found in turtles' natural nests. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
A batch of 90 turtles had hatched at East Coast Park and was released at sea off Sisters' Islands Marine Park last Thursday. This is done so that baby turtles are less likely to encounter predators, which typically hang around the reef. Mr Tan creati
Above: NParks conservation manager Jonathan Tan, 24, carrying a pail of turtle eggs that were laid at East Coast Park and transported to Sisters' Islands Marine Park on Aug 21. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
A batch of 90 turtles had hatched at East Coast Park and was released at sea off Sisters' Islands Marine Park last Thursday. This is done so that baby turtles are less likely to encounter predators, which typically hang around the reef. Mr Tan creati
Above: NParks senior conservation manager Collin Tong, 40, carefully placing turtle eggs in the incubation sandpit area. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
A batch of 90 turtles had hatched at East Coast Park and was released at sea off Sisters' Islands Marine Park last Thursday. This is done so that baby turtles are less likely to encounter predators, which typically hang around the reef. Mr Tan creati
Mr Tan creating a "runway" to guide the turtle hatchlings towards the sea last Thursday. The path has been cleared of obstacles such as marine trash and seaweeds, which may trap the hatchlings. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
A batch of 90 turtles had hatched at East Coast Park and was released at sea off Sisters' Islands Marine Park last Thursday. This is done so that baby turtles are less likely to encounter predators, which typically hang around the reef. Mr Tan creati
Hatchlings crawling towards the sea during the launch of the turtle hatchery on Small Sister's Island on Sept 29 last year. Baby turtles rely on environmental cues, such as the moonlight, to make their way from the sand to the sea.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
A batch of 90 turtles had hatched at East Coast Park and was released at sea off Sisters' Islands Marine Park last Thursday. This is done so that baby turtles are less likely to encounter predators, which typically hang around the reef. Mr Tan creati
Dr Karenne Tun (in green shirt), director of the coastal and marine branch of NParks' National Biodiversity Centre, with NParks intern Genie Lew, 20, Mr Tan (in blue shirt) and Mr Tong, releasing turtle hatchlings out at sea off Sisters' Islands Marine Park last Thursday. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
A batch of 90 turtles had hatched at East Coast Park and was released at sea off Sisters' Islands Marine Park last Thursday. This is done so that baby turtles are less likely to encounter predators, which typically hang around the reef. Mr Tan creati
A batch of 90 turtles had hatched at East Coast Park and was released at sea off Sisters' Islands Marine Park last Thursday. This is done so that baby turtles are less likely to encounter predators, which typically hang around the reef. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
A batch of 90 turtles had hatched at East Coast Park and was released at sea off Sisters' Islands Marine Park last Thursday. This is done so that baby turtles are less likely to encounter predators, which typically hang around the reef. Mr Tan creati
Turtle specimens displayed inside the hatchery on Small Sister's Island, a protected area zoned for conservation and research. Scientists can study the local sea turtles and their different stages of development there. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
A batch of 90 turtles had hatched at East Coast Park and was released at sea off Sisters' Islands Marine Park last Thursday. This is done so that baby turtles are less likely to encounter predators, which typically hang around the reef. Mr Tan creati
NParks staff and volunteers from the Biodiversity Beach Patrol and Marine Turtle Working Group attending a workshop on marine turtle conservation in September last year, after the launch of the turtle hatchery at Sisters' Islands Marine Park. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
90 turtle hatchlings hatched at East Coast Park and were released into the sea at Sisters' Islands Marine Park on Sept 19, 2019.
90 turtle hatchlings hatched at East Coast Park and were released into the sea at Sisters' Islands Marine Park on Sept 19, 2019.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Dr Karenne Tun, Director for Coastal and Marine branch, NParks, removing any obstacles which may obstruct or even trap the turtle hatchlings going into the water.
Dr Karenne Tun, Director for Coastal and Marine branch, NParks, removing any obstacles which may obstruct or even trap the turtle hatchlings going into the water.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
90 turtle hatchlings hatched at East Coast Park and were released into the sea at Sisters' Islands Marine Park on Sept 19, 2019.
90 turtle hatchlings hatched at East Coast Park and were released into the sea at Sisters' Islands Marine Park on Sept 19, 2019.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Ms Genie Lew, NParks intern, transferring the turtle hatchlings into a blue container before their release into the sea.
Ms Genie Lew, NParks intern, transferring the turtle hatchlings into a blue container before their release into the sea.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Prof Colin Limpus from Mon Repos Turtle Centre sharing about the developmental stage of turtles during the workshop after the launch of the turtle hatchery at Sisters' Islands Marine Park on Sept 29, 2018.
Prof Colin Limpus from Mon Repos Turtle Centre sharing about the developmental stage of turtles during the workshop after the launch of the turtle hatchery at Sisters' Islands Marine Park on Sept 29, 2018.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Ms Lisa Lim (right), NParks Volunteer, and Mr Max Khoo, Manager, checking the status of the natural nest before relocating the eggs to the turtle hatchery at Sisters' Islands Marine Park on Sept 29, 2018.
Ms Lisa Lim (right), NParks Volunteer, and Mr Max Khoo, Manager, checking the status of the natural nest before relocating the eggs to the turtle hatchery at Sisters' Islands Marine Park on Sept 29, 2018.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Artwork done by children from Bright Kids School House displayed during the launch of the turtle hatchery at Sisters' Islands Marine Park on Sept 29, 2018.
Artwork done by children from Bright Kids School House displayed during the launch of the turtle hatchery at Sisters' Islands Marine Park on Sept 29, 2018.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Sisters' Islands Marine Park on Sept 29, 2018.
Sisters' Islands Marine Park on Sept 29, 2018.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Unhatched eggs excavated from the nest to assess the hatching success rate after the launch of the turtle hatchery at Sisters' Islands Marine Park on Sept 29, 2018.
Unhatched eggs excavated from the nest to assess the hatching success rate after the launch of the turtle hatchery at Sisters' Islands Marine Park on Sept 29, 2018.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
(From left) Ms Lisa Lim, NParks Volunteer; Mr Collin Tong, Senior Conservation Manager, NParks; and Ms Shirley Lee, NParks Volunteer; measuring the depth of the turtle nest at East Coast Park on Aug 21, 2019.
(From left) Ms Lisa Lim, NParks Volunteer; Mr Collin Tong, Senior Conservation Manager, NParks; and Ms Shirley Lee, NParks Volunteer; measuring the depth of the turtle nest at East Coast Park on Aug 21, 2019.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Mr Max Khoo, Manager, carrying the pail of turtle eggs to the turtle hatchery at Sisters' Islands Marine Park on Sept 29, 2018.
Mr Max Khoo, Manager, carrying the pail of turtle eggs to the turtle hatchery at Sisters' Islands Marine Park on Sept 29, 2018.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Educational panel on display inside the turtle hatchery during the launch of the turtle hatchery at Sisters' Islands Marine Park on Sept 29, 2018.
Educational panel on display inside the turtle hatchery during the launch of the turtle hatchery at Sisters' Islands Marine Park on Sept 29, 2018.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Counting of undeveloped eggs and hatched eggs at East Coast Park on Aug 21, 2019.
Counting of undeveloped eggs and hatched eggs at East Coast Park on Aug 21, 2019.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Turtle hatchlings collected in a container waiting to be released further out into the sea off Sisters' Islands Marine Park on Sept 19, 2019.
Turtle hatchlings collected in a container waiting to be released further out into the sea off Sisters' Islands Marine Park on Sept 19, 2019.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Turtle hatchlings inside the incubation sand pit of the turtle hatchery at Sisters' Islands Marine Park on Sept 29, 2018.
Turtle hatchlings inside the incubation sand pit of the turtle hatchery at Sisters' Islands Marine Park on Sept 29, 2018.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Ms Ng Juat Ying, NParks conservation manager, placing a turtle egg into a pail at East Coast Park on Aug 21, 2019.
Ms Ng Juat Ying, NParks conservation manager, placing a turtle egg into a pail at East Coast Park on Aug 21, 2019.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
NParks staff and volunteers removing sand to extract turtle eggs from a nest at East Coast Park on Aug 21, 2019.
NParks staff and volunteers removing sand to extract turtle eggs from a nest at East Coast Park on Aug 21, 2019.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
An unhatched egg excavated from the nest to assess the hatching success rate after the launch of the turtle hatchery at Sisters' Islands Marine Park on Sept 29, 2018.
An unhatched egg excavated from the nest to assess the hatching success rate after the launch of the turtle hatchery at Sisters' Islands Marine Park on Sept 29, 2018.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Photojournalist
Published: 
Sep 23, 2019, 5:00 am SGT
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Some turtles can live to well over 100, so they can be forgiven for not getting too excited when their local hatchery celebrates its one-year anniversary on Sunday. The event will mark a significant milestone for conservation efforts here.

The turtle hatchery - a first here - was opened last September at the Sisters' Islands Marine Park to increase the survival rates of hawksbill and green sea turtles, both critically endangered and native to Singapore.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 23, 2019, with the headline 'A haven for turtles'. Subscribe
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