Conservation Cove: Hawksbill Turtle

7 species of marine turtle, 2 are found in Singapore. The hawksbill and green sea turtle.
Identifiable by the ‘spectacle’ markings around its eyes, the hawksbill is also hunted for its beautiful shell which is carved into ornaments
This was an AVA confiscation – note the hook on the shell, which indicates that this was meant to be a wall ornament
Country's first sea turtle hatchery is to be set up at the southern lagoon on Small Sisters' Island by the end of 2017.
CONSERVATION MESSAGE:Numbers have declined more than 80% in the last century mainly due to the trade in their shell. Hawksbill eggs are still eaten around the world despite its international protected status. All turtles lay eggs on land. Destruction of nesting sites and over-collection of turtle eggs have resulted in serious decline in turtle populations. Lights from coastal development confuse turtle hatchlings, causing them to move inland instead of the sea where they grow and develop.

Conservation Cove