Turtle Island
Turtle islands are present all over the world, from the Philippines to Canada, and they serve the useful purpose of giving turtles somewhere to lay their eggs where they will hopefully be free of predators. However, many of these islands are beginning to become habitats for another species; humans, who are beginning to cause environmental destruction through their activities.
Where can they be found?
Typically, the habitats can be found in many locations around the world, from South America to Canada and from Malaysia to Africa. The island habitats are favored among many turtles because of their safety for the young to get to their new home of the water once they have hatched.
The most famous turtle island
The most famous island in the world that houses turtle nests is the Turtle Islands National Park, located in east Malaysia, which consists of three islands, Selingan, Bakkungan Kecil and Gulisan. On the island, green turtles and hawksbill turtles lay their eggs.
In 1966, the first turtle hatchery was setup on the island, with two more turtle hatcheries appearing on the island soon after. In 1972, it was made a Game and Bird Sanctuary, and upgraded to a Marine Park in 1977.
During the peak season of October, 50 turtles come ashore to lay their eggs on Selingan Island. Regulations are strictly enforced on the island, and visitors can only view the turtles once per night. After the eggs have been laid, rangers come in and move them to incubation chambers. Once the eggs hatch, then visitors get to move the hatchlings to the sea, which is done at night to raise the chances of survival.
The program there to preserve the turtles and conserve them is the oldest in the world, as well as the most detailed in both statistics and researched.
Conclusion
Anywhere in the world that turtles can be found, you are sure to find an island that operates like a turtle island, where turtle eggs are laid and hatched to begin the next generation. While many of those habitats are now lost, there are some that are being preserved to ensure that the species does not die out.
If you want to see turtle islands for yourself, you can visit the one in Malaysia and see the operation done, something that has proven to be very popular.
Turtle islands are plentiful, but becoming fewer as humans encroach on the habitats of turtles.