by Gavin Jolis, Marine Species Strategy Manager, WWF-Malaysia

Photo 1: A green turtle glides over a sunlit shallow seabed in clear tropical waters. © Chris Tan / WWF-Malaysia

The 2025 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List reclassification of Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) from “Endangered” to “Least Concern” is an encouraging milestone for sea turtle conservation. It signals that decades of coordinated protection, monitoring, and persistence have begun to turn the tide globally. Listed as Endangered since 1982, the species’ improved status reflects more than four decades of sustained conservation effort.

Malaysia too shall take pride in this moment. Our long-term conservation work and monitoring data have contributed meaningfully to the wider assessment and to the global picture of recovery. We would like to acknowledge the Department of Fisheries Malaysia, Sabah Parks, Sabah Wildlife Department, Sarawak Forestry Corporation, NGOs, community groups, and the private sector for their long-standing efforts and quiet determination in protecting nesting sites, enforcing laws and keeping conservation moving forward – year after year.

Still, this milestone comes with a real risk if it is misunderstood. “Least Concern” does not mean “no concern.” It does not mean sea turtles are completely safe, no longer need protection, or that conservation can be scaled back. What it does show is that long-term conservation action is working. Protection of nesting beaches, stronger enforcement, monitoring, and community partnerships have helped green turtles recover. If this reclassification is read as a green light to scale back conservation, it risks undoing the very safeguards that have allowed green turtle populations to recover.

This is a time to celebrate, but not a time to be complacent. Efforts must be sustained to keep the populations thriving. In Malaysia, green turtles remain conservation dependent. Sustained effort is what has driven progress, and continued conservation is what will prevent that progress from reversing.

It is also worth understanding what this status really reflects. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is the world’s leading measure of extinction risk for plants, animals, and fungi. Based on the best available science, it shows how close a species is to disappearing and helps shape conservation decisions around the world.

The green turtle’s new status is based on global and regional trends, with populations estimated to have increased by around 28% since the 1970s. In the assessment, Malaysia falls within the East Indian-West Pacific regional population, which is also listed as Least Concern. Mind that in the said global assessment, the regional abundance trend of green turtle is declining, showing that despite the recovery – we are nowhere near the finish line.

Figure 1: Categories of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. © Peter Halasz, CC BY 2.5

Malaysia’s contribution to the regional assessment is grounded in long-term data from key sites, including Chagar Hutang in Terengganu, Turtle Islands Park and Lankayan Island in Sabah, and sites in Sarawak. The trends are encouraging in most areas. Turtle populations in Sabah and Terengganu are increasing, while Sarawak appears to be stabilising with a slow upward trajectory in recent years, despite an overall long-term historical decline. These nuances matter. They remind us that recovery is not uniform, and that local conditions still determine whether turtles thrive or disappear.

Figure 2: A snapshot of green turtle nesting numbers in the 2025 nesting season at Telaga Papan Beaches, Setiu, Terengganu. © Marine Programme / WWF-Malaysia

Terengganu, a state where turtles are a defining symbol, green turtles embody both heritage and pride. In the state’s Telaga Papan beaches, long-term nesting monitoring shows a steady increase in successful nesting between 2008 to 2025. Through partnership with the Department of Fisheries Malaysia, nest poaching rates have been kept below 10%. In 2025, hatching success for nests incubated in hatchery reached 83%, with some nests achieving 100%.

In addition to monitoring, stronger protection has also benefitted local turtle populations. On 1 June 2022, Terengganu banned the sale of turtle eggs for all sea turtle species under the Turtle Enactment 1951 (Amendment 2021). This landmark step strengthens protection for nesting populations. But to keep recovery on track, we must stay alert to the threats green turtles still face in Malaysian waters.

• Accidental capture in fishing gear (bycatch)

• Turtle poaching or direct-take at foraging grounds

• Illegal collection of turtles and eggs

• Coastal development and beach erosion

• Bright artificial lights

• Seagrass beds and nesting beaches damaged

Figure 3: Threats to green turtles in Malaysia. © Marine Programme / WWF-Malaysia

So, what should Malaysia do now, at a time when the global narrative is becoming more hopeful?

First, we should recognise how far Malaysia has come over the past four decades.  That progress has been driven by the dedication of government agencies such as the Department of Fisheries Malaysia, Sabah Parks, Sabah Wildlife Department, Sarawak Forestry Corporation, alongside NGOs, the private sector, and the commitment of local communities. Many nesting sites across the country now have active conservation and monitoring programmes in place, and that is a major achievement that must be protected, sustained and strengthened.

Photo 2: MoU signing between WWF-Malaysia and the Department of Fisheries Malaysia, marking a shared commitment to strengthen marine conservation efforts. © Justice Khor / WWF-Malaysia

Second, we must modernise the way we conserve and protect turtles to address the key threats. WWF-Malaysia is working with state and federal agencies to deploy innovative tools such as ShellBank, the world’s first global sea turtle DNA database and traceability toolkit. ShellBank applies genetic science to strengthen conservation, research, and enforcement. It can help reveal where turtles come from, identify populations most at risk. It can also trace the origin of bycaught turtles, illegally collected eggs, poached turtles, and turtle products. Better decisions depend on better evidence, and initiative like ShellBank improves traceability and turns science into practical action.

Photo 3: Turtle patrol in Setiu, Terengganu. Turtle eggs are retrieved, counted, and relocated to safety. © Mazidi Abd Ghani / WWF-Malaysia

Third, we must ensure the long-term continuation of community-based conservation efforts. Expanding community-driven approaches, backed by science, long-term partnerships, and local stewardship, is one of the most effective ways to sustain protection over time. When local people lead, turtles have a better chance to thrive.

Fourth, we must strengthen conservation from nest to foraging grounds. Protecting nests is essential, but it is only one part of a turtle’s life. A hatchling from our beaches may spend years feeding in seagrass beds and travelling along coastal routes that cross state and national boundaries. That is why identifying migration routes and protecting foraging grounds is just as important as safeguarding nesting sites. Initiative such as Blue Corridors for Turtles maps these migration pathways and help guide conservation efforts across borders, including the identification of Important Marine Turtle Areas.

Given the many gaps that still exist between genetically distinct nesting populations, initiatives like ShellBank and Blue Corridors for Turtles are critical to understand where turtles come from and how they are connected across borders. WWF-Malaysia encourages government agencies, research institutions, NGOs and community groups to support these efforts so we can better track populations and identify those most at risk, particularly along migratory pathways in the high seas and the marine habitats where turtles spend most of their lives.

Finally, our attention must turn to hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), which remain critically endangered globally. We must remember the loss of Malaysia’s leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) and act now to prevent hawksbills from suffering the same fate. In Malaysia, the only significant and viable hawksbill nesting populations remain in Melaka and Sabah, making it crucial to advance conservation in these sites to ensure their survival.

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species reclassification is encouraging. It shows that conservation works when it is sustained, properly supported, and scaled to match the threats species face. But those threats have not disappeared. If anything, many are growing. This progress will only last if we continue strengthening conservation, enforcement, community stewardship, and science-based management to safeguard what Malaysia has worked hard to achieve.

If you live, work, or holiday by the coast, small actions can make a real difference:

• Keep beachfront lighting low and turtle-friendly, especially during nesting season from March to September.

• Avoid disturbing nesting turtles, especially as they are laying eggs.

• If you are in a boat, slow down in shallow waters where turtles feed, especially during nesting season.

• Report suspected activities, such as illegal egg collection or sales to the:

  • Peninsular Malaysia: Department of Fisheries Malaysia at 03-88885019

  • Sabah: Sabah Wildlife Department at 088-254767

  • Sarawak: Sarawak Forestry Corporation at 019-8859 996

• Do not buy or consume turtle eggs or turtle-based products, such as tortoiseshell combs/hair ornaments

• Support sea turtle conservation initiatives led by NGOs, private sector, and community organisations.

Malaysia has contributed to the global recovery of green turtles. But recovery is never permanent. With continued collaboration, commitment and investment, we can help ensure the long-term survival of green turtles and other iconic species for future generations.

- Ends -

About WWF-Malaysia

World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia) was established in 1972 and is part of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the international conservation organisation. Working to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and nature, WWF-Malaysia’s efforts to conserve nature focus on six major themes: forests, oceans, wildlife, food, climate and energy, as well as freshwater. Our mission is to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.

Find our latest news here: 
https://www.wwf.org.my/media_and_information/media_centre_and_updates/

Note to the media:

All quotes are to be attributed to the designated persons quoted in this media release.

Should you need more information, please see the details below:

Justice Khor (Communications Lead, Marine Programme, WWF-Malaysia)
Tel: + 603-7450 3773 Email: jkhor@wwf.org.my

Justin Ang (Senior Communications Manager, WWF-Malaysia)
Tel: + 603-7450 3773 Email: justinang@wwf.org.my