Sabah turtle egg hunters become turtle egg saviours
SANDAKAN: Villagers on Libaran Island who once collected and sold turtle eggs for income are now helping protect nesting sites and hand over the eggs for conservation.
Villagers from Libaran Island in Sabah, once collectors and sellers of turtle eggs, have shifted their focus to turtle protection. Sardi Barall, a local community ranger, explained that villagers previously collected eggs for income, but now work to preserve nesting sites and hand over the eggs for conservation. Khamisah Nakdul, chairman of the Village Development and Security Committee, noted that residents are now more aware of the importance of protecting turtle eggs, which they once consumed.
The programme encourages villagers to keep the beach clean to ensure turtles continue returning to nest. WWF-Malaysia's Sophia CK Lim highlighted that music can foster a connection with nature and raise awareness, which is why the Sepilok Jazz Festival was organized during the Covid-19 pandemic. The festival aimed to educate both locals and visitors about the Walai Penyu Conservation Park on Libaran Island and promote sea turtle conservation.
From 2011 to 2026, Foster recorded 880 turtle landings, 72,227 eggs laid, and 47,067 hatched, with 46,248 turtles released into the wild, including 33,956 green turtles and 12,292 hawksbill turtles. The success of the conservation programme relies on the community's ownership and commitment to long-term sustainability.
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