About 40 kilometers
off the coast of Sandakan, this group of island is one of the most important
sea turtle breeding grounds in Asia. Almost every night green and hawksbill sea
turtles emerge from the sea to lay their eggs ini the san of the exact same
beach where they were bornAlmost every night green and hawksbill sea turtles
emerge from the sea to lay their eggs in the sand of the exact same beach where
they were born. To help boost the numbers of these endangered turtles, the eggs
are collected by park rangers and moved to the safety of a turtle hatchery.
To allow visitors to observe the late-night
laying, there is a simple guesthouse and cafeteria on the island. There are
strict rules for observing the turtles (no flash photography, don't get too
close), but according to what we heard in Sandakan, not all visitors seem to
respect them.
The best time to visit is from July to October,
but turtle nesting occurs throughout the year. Independent travel to Turtle Island is not
possible -- Crystal Quest is the cheapest option and can arrange a one-night
stay including meals for 460 ringgit with a minimum of two people. Other travel
agencies charge 550-650 ringgit per person (likewise with a minimum of two
people).
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