Malaysia
In the fenced-up enclosures we will find that there are holes dug in the sand.
Inside these holes are the turtle eggs (in some locations they are kept in styrofoam
boxes filled with sand) and each hole is surrounded by its own little wire-mesh fence
with some information or data, like number of eggs and the date of incubation.
When the eggs hatch, usually about 45-60 days later, the hatchlings are taken and kept in basins
or in a small pool before they are released at night, to increase their chances of making it to the
sea, before being spotted by their natural predators.
And because when they mature the hatchlings return to the
same beaches they were born, it is important that many of
these tiny hatchlings make it to maturity, so that they will
come back for nesting in the future. Hopefully there will be
more of them then.
Besides working on the hatcheries, these turtle centers also
help to disseminate information on the status of the turtles,
like the daily numbers of landing and nesting, eggs
incubated and hatchlings released to the sea.
They also usually do extensive research work on the sea turtles, their food, habitats and behavior.
Miscellaneous continuing public awareness programs are usually conducted by the turtle centers to
educate the public on the critical need to protect the sea turtles, their eggs and their environment.
School children and villagers living near the beaches where the turtles land and nest are usually
targeted in these educational programs.
But at some locations, like those in Sabah and
Sarawak, the number of visitors are regulated, and
some centers have time-tables and strict schedules for
visitors to follow when they are at the hatchery sites.
These regulations are necessary and are meant to
safeguard the sea turtles natural habitats and help
ensure a safe and conducive environment for them to
land and nest.