Save Our Turtles

Our Flippered Friend

Four of the seven species of marine turtles land and lay their eggs on Malaysian beaches: Leatherbacks, Hawksbills, Olive Ridleys and Green turtles. They’ve graced our seas since the age of the dinosaurs, but the last 20 years has seen such a dramatic decline in their numbers that the day could soon come when they won’t return to their ancestral nesting beaches anymore.

On The Brink of Extinction

The Leatherback turtle population has dramatically declined – by more than a staggering 99% over the past 20 years. More than 3,000 nestings were recorded in the 1970s, but only 9 nests were found in 1999. Other species have declined by more than 60% since they were first recorded to nest decades ago.

WWF’s Turtle Conservation Efforts:

Protecting natural nesting grounds
Nesting beaches must be secluded from development and human activity. WWF’s goal is to protect important nesting grounds to ensure that turtle populations recover. » Read more

Local community involvement
WWF is working with people to develop alternative sources of income such as eco-tourism to support their livelihood. Localised awareness programmes instill a sense of ownership and appreciation for the magnificent creatures on their doorstep. » Read more

Satellite tracking and tagging
Identifying important near shore areas that the turtles use as migration routes, foraging areas, and nesting areas will help contribute to ongoing efforts to safeguard them. The results of our tracking will be used to develop management guidelines for these areas and advocate legal protection for these important grounds. » Read more

Protection of eggs and better management of hatcheries
Turtle eggs also need our protection from poachers. Existing legislations must be strengthened and enforced. WWF-Malaysia works hand-in-hand with turtle hatcheries to ensure best management practices are implemented. » Read more