Keep on swimming: 42 critically-endangered hawksbill turtles released off Sisters’ Islands
As at Aug 14, a total of 294 turtle hatchlings have emerged from the hatchery, said NParks.
In June, a hawksbill turtle laid 97 eggs on Big Sister's Island, but its nest was at risk due to proximity to the waterline. The National Parks Board (NParks) stepped in and successfully released 42 hatchlings into the waters off Sisters' Islands on August 13 and 14. These eggs were previously relocated to the turtle hatchery on Small Sister's Island to ensure safe incubation.
The hatchery, established in 2018, aims to provide a protected environment for turtle eggs to incubate, hatch safely, and make it to the sea. In 2026 alone, 294 hatchlings have emerged from the hatchery, along with 59 sightings of live sea turtles and 25 documented nests. Hawksbill turtles, known for their distinctive beak-like mouths, typically visit Singapore's shores between May and October to lay eggs.
The latest clutch had an unusual hatch rate of 43%, which may indicate the presence of an inexperienced mother, as female turtles typically lay between 100 to 150 eggs in a single nest. Once hatched, the hatchlings face numerous challenges, including predation, disorientation, entanglement in debris, or even poaching in the open sea.
Another hawksbill turtle, named Dorothy, has been attempting to nest on Singapore's shores despite an injured hind flipper, hindering her ability to nest. NParks relocated a new clutch of 92 hawksbill turtle eggs from East Coast Park to the hatchery in August to improve their chances of survival away from human activity, light pollution, and predators.
Collaborative efforts to conserve Singapore's sea turtles have been ongoing for nearly two decades, with NParks initiating a program in 2016 to protect the two native turtle species, both of which are at high risk of extinction. The green turtle, the other native species, has been spotted in local waters but not recorded nesting in Singapore like its neighbor Malaysia.
NParks conducts beach patrols during nesting season to monitor nesting turtles, nests, and hatchlings, urging the public to report sightings to the NParks helpline without disturbing the turtles or interfering with their nests.
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