Turtle Islands National Park (Malaysia)

Turtle Islands Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Turtle Islands
Location	Sabah, Malaysia
Nearest city	Sandakan
Coordinates	6°08′58″N 118°3′15″E / 6.14944°N 118.05417°E / 6.14944; 118.05417Coordinates: 6°08′58″N 118°3′15″E / 6.14944°N 118.05417°E / 6.14944; 118.05417
Area	17 km²
Established	1977
Governing body	Sabah Parks

Turtle Islands Park (Taman Pulau Penyu) is located within the Turtle Islands, which lie in the Sulu Sea^[1] some 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) north of Sandakan in Sabah, Malaysia.^[2] It consists of 3 islands - Selingaan, Bakkungan Kechil and Gulisaan (often spelt with -an instead of the traditional -aan), including the surrounding coral reefs and ocean. The Park is noted for its green turtles and hawksbill turtles which lay their eggs on the beaches of the islands. The Park covers an area of 17.4 km². The name Turtle Islands, however, refers to 10 islands, 3 of which are part of Turtle Islands Park of Malaysia, and 7 which belong to the Municipality of Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi, Philippines.

On 1 August 1966, the first turtle hatchery in Malaysia was established on Selingan, funded entirely by the Sabah state government. Turtle hatcheries on the remaining two islands followed shortly after. In 1972, Selingan, Bakkungan Kechil and Gulisan were designated as a Game and Bird Sanctuary. In 1977, this status was upgraded to that of a Marine Park. Permanent park staff monitor the turtles, protect the hatcheries and tag the turtles for research purposes. Libaran Island is also designated within the park boundaries, however it is not a major turtle hatching spot.

Turtle Islands Park is administered by Sabah Parks.

Selingan Island

Turtle breeding

Only on Selingan are there chalets for overnight visitors, and those who wish to see the turtles laying eggs must stay overnight. A curious fact of the three islands is that turtles come ashore nightly, not only during certain seasons and thus one is virtually guaranteed to see them. During the peak season (October) up to 50 turtles come ashore to lay eggs.

However, park rules and regulations are strictly enforced and visitors are not allowed on the beach from sunset to sunrise so as not to disturb the turtles. A ranger will call all visitors to observe only one turtle laying eggs per night. The eggs are collected and the visitors vacate the beach immediately so as not to scare away other turtles, which are very sensitive to movement on the beach. After the laying and collection of eggs, and eventual tagging of the turtle if it is a first-time visitor, tourists are allowed into the hatchery to observe the further work of the rangers: the transplantation of the freshly laid eggs into a man-made incubation chamber. The chamber is no different from that of the turtle: between 60–75 cm deep, in the sand, but within a protected hatchery to make it impossible for natural predators to dig the nests open. Since temperature determines the sex of the turtles part of the hatchery is shaded, while the rest remains under the open sun.

After the transplantation of the eggs visitors will get turtle hatchlings – baby turtles – to release into the sea, which is also done by night to further increase their chances of survival.

Not all nests are emptied by the park rangers, but some remain undisturbed and develop naturally. By conserving the turtles the park does not want to endanger other wildlife on the island: many animals that are natural predators of the turtles such as monitor lizards, a crab specialising in turtle hatchlings, eagles and other birds, and marine animals such as sharks. They need the turtles for their survival.

The turtle conservation programme in Sabah is the oldest in the world and with the most detailed statistics and research. Marine turtles have been around for 230 million years at least, but because of human activities they have been brought, over the past hundred years, to the brink of extinction.

References

↑ C.Michael Hogan. 2011. Sulu Sea. Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. P.Saundry & C.J.Cleveland. Washington DC
↑ Sabah Parks: Turtle Islands National Park, retrieved 22 April 2011

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Turtle Island National Park.

Sabah Parks: Turtle Islands National Park

Islands of Sabah

Adal Ampak-Ampak Bai Baik Bait Bakau-Bakau Bakubang Bakungan Bakungan Kecil Balak Balambangan Balangkasan Balundangan Kecil Balungang Besar Balusuan Bangan-Bangan Banggi Bankawan Bangkuruan Batawan Batik Batik Kulambu Batu Laya-Laya Berhala Bilangan Billean Bingkulan Bisa Bodgaya Bohayan Boheydulang Bonting Bum Bum Bush Buwaning Daisy Danawan Daunan Delconte Dewa Dinawan Di Tg. Batai Di Tg. Pendaras Engot Evans Gaya Gatahan Guhuan Utara Gulisan Gusong Gusungan Hutan Rimba Jambongan Kabili Kahamkamman Kalampunian Kalampunian Besar Kalampunian Damit Kalangaan Kalapuan Kalumpang Kalungan Kalung Kalungan Kanawi Kaniogan Kapalai Kawan Kelautan Keramuk Keremat Kukuban Laila Lakatan Landayang Lankayan Langaan Lambidan Larapan Latoan Leonan Libaran Ligitan Lihak-Lihak Lihiman Limau Limauan Linkabo Lingisan Lungisan Lubukan Mabahok Mabul Maganting Maiga Majinkil Malawali Maliangin Besar Maliangin Kecil Malundangan Mamutik Mandag-Mandag Mandidarah Mangkalai Darat Mangkalai Laut Mantabuan Mantanani Manukan Mataking Mataking Kecil Mata Pahi Mati Menampilek Mengalum Merigi Modom Montokud Musa Nunuyan Darat Nunuyan Laut Nusa Kuya Nusa Tengah Omadal Pababag Pagassan Pakil Palak Pandan-Pandan Pandanan Pandawan Panimbawan Panukaran Papahan Pasir Patanunam Peduk Penampangan Plompong Pom Pom Puno Puno Puru Puru Sabangkat Saddle Saga Sakar Salakan Sand Sandy Sangai Sapi Sarangga Sebangkat Sebatik Sedam Selangan Selingan Sepanggar Si Amil Sibuon Sikarindingan Silawa Silogong Silumpat Silungun Simandalan Simial Sinamgil Sinjataan Sipadan Sipanggau Sipindung Sisipan Straggler Sulug Sulok Sungor Tabawan Tabilian Tabun Tagabua Tagujawan Tambisan Tambulian Tango Tanjung Tanjung Tiga Papan Tatagan-Tatagan Tegipil Tetagan Torongohok Terumbu Eberett Tetabuan Tibakan Tiga Tigabu Tigowis Tikus Timba Timba Timbang Timbun Mata Timur Tiong Kecil Tree Rock Udar Kecil Udar Besar Usukan

Source: List of islands in Sabah (Page 53/61)

Protected areas of Sabah

World Heritage Site	Kinabalu National Park

State parks	Crocker Range Park Tawau Hills Park Tiga Island Park Tun Sakaran Marine Park Tunku Abdul Rahman Park Turtle Islands Park

Protection forest reserves	Danum Valley Conservation Area Maliau Basin Conservation Area Silabukan Protection Forest Reserve Ulu Kalumpang Forest Reserve Bidu Bidu Forest Reserve

Other nature reserves and sanctuaries	Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre Silam Coast Conservation Area Tabin Wildlife Reserve Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area Rafflesia Forest Reserve

National parks of Malaysia

West Malaysia	Endau Rompin Gunung Ledang Islands of Mersing Penang Taman Negara

East Malaysia	Bako Batang Ai Bukit Tiban Crocker Range Gunung Buda Gunung Gading Gunung Mulu Kinabalu Kubah Kuching Wetlands Lambir Hills Loagan Bunut Maludam Niah Pulong Tau Rajang Mangroves Similajau Talang Satang Tanjung Datu Tawau Hills Tiga Island Tun Sakaran Tunku Abdul Rahman Turtle Islands

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