Hatchery near Sandakan moves mountains to conserve Green, Hawksbill turtles
SANDAKAN: A turtle hatchery on Libaran island near here released 23,808 endangered Green and Hawksbill turtle hatchlings into the ocean between 2012 and June this year.
Established by Friends of Sea Turtles Education and Research (FOSTER), the hatchery is part of a turtle conservation programme set up following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sabah Wildlife department.
Its president, Alexander Yee, recently paid a courtesy call to Wildlife director Augustine Tuuga to brief him on the progress at FOSTER.
Yee said the programme includes creating awareness among locals, visitors and students on the value of conserving sea turtles, undertaking research projects, community beach cleaning and holding dialogues with villagers.
FOSTER is also set to publish a book on its turtle programme in Libaran.
Meanwhile, Augustine said he hopes more people would step up to work towards the same goal of protecting and conserving endangered species.