Green Turtles Return to Kelantan Coast After 30 Years as 156 Hatchlings Released in Pasir Puteh

KOTA BHARU, Aug 25 — Green turtles have returned to the Kelantan coast after a three-decade absence following the discovery of hatchlings in Pasir Puteh.

The discovery was initially reported by members of the public to the local Fisheries Community (MyKP) before being referred to the Kelantan Fisheries Department for monitoring and conservation action.

Kelantan Fisheries Department Director Ismail Ibrahim confirmed that the hatchlings were identified as green turtles, with 156 hatchlings successfully released back into the sea.

“We released 156 of the hatchlings back into the sea as part of conservation efforts. We have not recorded any sea turtle landings in Kelantan waters for a long time. The return of these hatchlings is a very positive sign for our marine ecosystem,” Ismail said in a statement on the department’s official Facebook page.

Meanwhile, State Agriculture, Agro-food Industry and Commodities Committee Chairman Datuk Tuan Mohd Saripudin Tuan Ismail highlighted that Pachakan, Semerak, and Tok Bali beaches in Pasir Puteh possess strong potential to re-establish themselves as turtle nesting grounds following the discovery of hatchlings and eggs in the area.

He noted that historically, turtles inhabiting the waters around Pulau Redang frequently landed and nested at Pachakan Beach in Semerak.

“Therefore, we must take action to prevent this species from becoming extinct. One of the measures is to conduct awareness campaigns to ensure turtle habitats are preserved. With proper planning, we are confident that Pachakan Beach and Tok Bali can once again become turtle nesting sites,” Tuan Mohd Saripudin stated in a social media post.

–NMT