Save the Sea Turtles:

How can we help?

The breeding season for sea turtles is between April and October each year, with many species laying between two to eight nests per season. Depending on the species, a turtle can lay anywhere between 50 to 200 eggs in one go.

Despite these numbers, however, the turtle population continues to decline. It’s estimated that only between one in 1,000 and one in 10,000 make it to adulthood due to natural processes and predators including birds, crabs and monitor lizards. What’s more, the human factor has had a huge impact on numbers. Illegal trade is rampant, as shells are sold on the black market and eggs continue to be a sought-after delicacy in many countries.

As part of conservation efforts, several resort islands around Singapore are focused on making sure that the eggs are protected and the baby turtles make it safely to the sea. We catch up with the team at Telunas Resorts to find out more about the turtles and how we can help.

What kind of sea turtles can you find around this area?

Six out of the world’s seven sea turtle species can be found in Indonesia: the green, hawksbill, olive ridley, leatherback, flatback and loggerhead turtles.

Malaysia is home to four of the species: the green, hawksbill, olive ridley and leatherback turtles. Meanwhile, in Singapore, hawksbill and green turtles are the most commonly sighted sea turtles. These species are also most commonly seen at Telunas.

Why are turtles important in the sea ecosystem?

Sea turtles are a keystone species. This means that they play a vital role in maintaining the balance in their environment and keeping population numbers of other animals in check. For example, leatherback turtles feed on jellyfish. These jellyfish eat larval fish, meaning that there will be less fish that grow into maturity if the jellyfish population is not controlled. Likewise, hawksbill turtles eat sponges in the coral reefs; without this happening, the sponges can outgrow the coral and eventually kill the reef. Sea turtles also graze on sea grass; this keeps the sea beds healthy and enables the sea grass to continue storing carbon and producing oxygen.

Sea turtle nests are also beneficial to the ecosystem and other species. Eggs and hatchlings that don’t survive provide lots of nutrients for surrounding vegetation on the beaches. Birds, fish and mammals like raccoons rely on plentiful hatchlings to survive during nesting season.

What can humans do to help them?

There are several conscious efforts we can take to make a difference:

Reduce the use of plastic: A great deal of plastic ends up in the oceans, harming sea turtles by choking or entangling them. Instead, opt for reusable water bottles, plastic bags and straws where possible.

Participate in ocean clean-ups: Be mindful not to leave trash behind when you visit the beach, and join local beach clean-up groups to collect rubbish that could be harmful not just to sea turtles, but other marine animals.

Don’t obstruct nests: Fill in ditches, knock down sandcastles and remove any beach equipment before you leave the beach. These can become obstacles for sea turtles trying to reach the beach for nesting season.

Keep beaches dark: Bright lights are disorienting for sea turtles and they can discourage the turtles from coming to the beach to nest.

Keep a safe distance: If you spot a sea turtle, don’t try to touch or feed it, especially if it’s nesting or hatching. Remember that these are wild animals.

Use sustainable sunscreen: Be mindful of harmful chemicals in your sunscreen, as they are detrimental to reefs and marine life. Always looks for an oceanfriendly and biodegradable seal of approval.

Can visitors safely see the turtles at Telunas? If so, when and how?

Telunas Resorts proudly hosts hawksbill sea turtles. We’ve built a small make-shift hatchery to make sure a new generation of baby turtles safely reach the oceans each year. Nesting season usually occurs between April to November and we invite guests to safely partake in releasing them into the ocean.

What other eco-initiatives does Telunas have?

We’re constantly working towards more mindful and sustainable practices. In recent years, we have drastically reduced the amount of single-use plastic on our property and have found ways to continue operations without it. For example, our trash cans have been redesigned so they don’t need plastic liners and we’ve found ways of wrapping and transporting items using only reusable bags. We have also significantly reduced our availability of disposable water bottles on the property, and we sweep the beach multiple times each day to collect and extract rubbish from marine ecosystems. Guests are also are encouraged to participate in scheduled rubbish clean-up activities.

To find out more, visit telunasresorts.com.