DUNGUN, Oct 10 2026 — Pantai Rantau Abang has once again drawn attention after a leatherback turtle landed to nest on the beach in the early hours of this morning.
Director-General of Fisheries Datuk Adnan Hussain said the landing marks the fifth recorded nesting of the world’s largest sea turtle species along Terengganu’s coastline since last month.
The turtle came ashore at 3 am, laid its eggs at 4.30 am, and returned to the sea at approximately 5.45 am during high tide. A total of 48 eggs were collected and transferred at 7 am to the controlled hatchery at the Turtle Conservation and Information Centre (TCIC) Rantau Abang for protection and monitoring.
“Overall, 313 leatherback turtle eggs have been recorded from the five nesting events,” Adnan said in a statement today.
The previous nestings were recorded as follows:
- 1 September at Pantai Pasir Putih, Marang (44 eggs)
- 13 September at Pantai Rantau Abang (81 eggs)
- 22 September at Pantai Kuala Abang (70 eggs)
- 1 October at Pantai Jambu Bongkok (70 eggs)
Inspection of the latest nesting site showed a crawl track measuring approximately 2.1 metres wide and 15 metres long, with the original nest depth recorded at around 110 centimetres.
Monitoring and patrols were carried out jointly with the Fisheries Research Institute (FRI) Rantau Abang to safeguard the nesting area and the eggs.
“This collaboration supports the Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF) in strengthening field monitoring and implementing continuous conservation measures,” Adnan said.
He stressed that controlled egg management, nest monitoring and protection of nesting beaches are critical steps in turtle conservation, particularly for species facing threats to their long-term survival. Community cooperation is equally important.
DOF reminds the public not to disturb nesting turtles, remove eggs or damage nests. Any sighting of a turtle or nest should be reported immediately to the department for further action.
The protection of turtles and their eggs is enforced under the Fisheries Act 1985 [Act 317] and the Terengganu Turtle Enactment.
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