Beacon Project partners gather for the release of the hatchlings.



The hatchlings head into the South China Sea upon release.


The volunteers get ready to release all 54 turtle hatchlings at Turtle Beach 2 in SNP.

BINTULU: A total of 54 turtle hatchlings were released at Turtle Beach 2, Similajau National Park (SNP) on Saturday.

A statement issued by Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) said this was the second batch of hatchlings released over the last two months.

Present during the release were park warden Alexander Thomas, as well as representatives from SFC, Malaysia LNG Sdn Bhd (MLNG) and state Forest Department.

MLNG is the sponsor of the Biodiversity, Environment and Conservation (Beacon) Project, to which the much-desired return of turtles to nest at SNP had been attributed.

In total, 130 turtle hatchlings have been released at SNP since November this year — 76 released on Nov 17 from previous nestings. The eggs had been earlier relocated to the Beacon Turtle Hatchery located near SNP headquarters.

“We are celebrating the release of these hatchlings resulting from the return of turtles to nest at SNP. The last recorded incidence of turtle eggs being laid at the national park was on July28, 2010 — more than five years ago,” said SFC statement.

“The return of the turtles to SNP is a manifestation of the success of the Beacon Project — a collaboration between SFC and MLNG in the effort to conserve, protect, regenerate and enhance marine biodiversity off the shores of Similajau National Park,” it added.

Under the Beacon Project sponsored by MLNG, 1,500 units of reef balls have been deployed off the coast of SNP since 2013.

The reef balls serve as passive enforcement that hinders trawlers from entering the park’s waters; thus providing a safe haven for the turtles.

Another contribution by the Beacon Project is a turtle hatchery built by staff volunteers from MLNG and SFC to provide shelter for turtle hatchlings at the national park.