Turtle nesting season is here, but did you know there are two critically endangered species of sea turtles that call Singapore home?
They are the Hawksbill turtle and the Green turtle.
Between May and October, these turtles might come to our shores to lay eggs.
There have been a few sightings in recent months, including one on World Turtle Day on May 23.
Kayakers found sick Hawksbill turtle at Southern Islands
Over the weekend, two kayakers, Syed and S.A., encounter another Hawksbill turtle at the Southern Islands.
via Kayakasia/Facebook.
However, this one was described to be "lifeless" and was floating belly up between Kusu and Lazarus islands.
The duo initially thought that the hawksbill turtle was dead.
As they were about to document this finding, they observed a little movement from the feeble turtle.
The sick turtle moved slightly a bit more after some rest.
via Kayakasia/Facebook.
It was eventually able to swim but was too weak to dive underwater.
The kayakers made a call to the National Parks Board (NParks) and met the NParks staff at Tanjong beach, Sentosa where a vet from the S.E.A aquarium did a quick check on the turtle.
via Kayakasia/Facebook.
In response to Mothership's query, the Biodiversity (Marine Park) deputy director of Coastal and Marine, National Biodiversity Centre at NParks, Collin Tong said that they have received the turtle from the kayakers on Aug 2. The turtle appeared weak and skinny and is likely to have been sick for a while.
Tong added that the turtle is undergoing health checks and treatment by vets at the S.E.A Aquarium at Resort World Sentosa with the expertise in the care of marine animals and where there are suitable facilities to hold the turtle.
The turtle will be released back to the sea when it recovers.
Here's the full post about the incident:
Hawksbill turtles are critically endangered
Hawksbill turtles are critically endangered.
However, the few left in the wild can be sighted in the waters around Singapore. The females are occasionally spotted nesting at East Coast Park.
The species is threatened by pollution such as plastic bags and abandoned fishing nets as well as the loss of nesting beaches due to land reclamation.
They also face illegal poaching where they are hunted down for their eggs or shells.
While a hawksbill turtle can lay up to 200 eggs at one time, the chance of survival for the hatchlings is about one in 1,000. This results in a decline in population over the years.
What to do if you see a hawksbill turtle in Singapore?
If you do encounter a hawksbill turtle, you can call NParks at 1800-471-7300.
Keep a distance from the turtle and the eggs, and stay out of the turtle's sight to avoid scaring or provoking it.
During night time, do not shine lights or use flash photography on the turtle.
Light and noise may scare the turtle which might leave the site without laying eggs. Give it some privacy.
Do remember to keep clear of the tracks that the turtle leaves behind as this is important for researchers to identify the species and locate the nest.
Read more here.
Top photo via Kayakasia/Facebook