Population Status and Management of Sea Turtles at the Sabah Turtle Island Park Paul Basintal and Maklarin Lakim

Abstract

This paperpresents the status of seaturtle populationsand their management in Turtle Islands Parkfrom 1980 to the present. Also discussed-are:the early turtle conservationeffort, the recentturtle conservationprogram in Pulau Sipadan, and the socio-economicimportance of turtles. The managementof sea turtles in the park involve patrolling of the beac/1and surrounding waters, hatchery management, hatchling management,and visitor management.Research activities are confined to datacollection and tagging. The datacollected was used as the basisfor rational turtle management. Reporton turtle tag recoveriescome mostly from the Philippines. In 1989,the MalaysianNational University, Sabah Campus (UKMSJ establisheda data bank programon sea turtles in cooperationwith the Sabah Parks. The program was discontinued following a change of personnel in the UKMS. Turtle nestings continued to declineunti/1987. Thefollowing year marked the reversalof the nesting trend. The situation, however, is too earlyfor further comment. Finally, a joint managementeffortisnecessaryinordertosavetheturtlepopulations in the Sulu Sea.

1. Introduction main nesting islands within the state of Sabah, these rookeries were subsequently declared For decades, sea turtles have been a source as a National Park. The park covers an area of of food and commerce in Sabah. The about 1,740 hectares and includes the coral overexploitation of this marine resource has reefs and the waters between the islands. The resulted in near-extinction. Although the establishment of these islands as a national need for turtle conservation was already rec­ park ensures total protection of the coral reefs ognized during the colonial days, other pri­ which are integral components of the island orities took precedence. Conservation activi­ ecosystem. ties in Sabah were minimal until 1972 when three turtle rookeries in the Sulu Sea were This paper briefly describes the early tur­ established as Game and Bird Sanctuaries. tle conservation efforts in Sabah, and dis­ cusses the population status of the green and The three rookeries, i.e., Pulau.Selingaan, hawksbill turtles and their current manage­ P. Bakkungaan Kechi!, and P. Gu!isaan were ment in the Turtle Islands Park, the socio­ acquired by the government from private economic importance of turtles, and also tur­ ownership at a cost of M$ 89,000.00. As the tle data obtained for the last 13 years. 139

rcl_-lllfiCtll Hl'J"'~"~s ldf§ifiMM!iDII!!!!fl' occurred onFebruary20, 1986 (deSilva, 1986), Consequently, P. Selingaan, P. Bakkungaan • T - ~- A ., noo r-.~n~~,-~ R:rA ~~nrh•:.riP<: :oncl were later .-"

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failed to pay the fine of M$10,000.00. During Patrol of Beach and Surrounding W4Jters. the resultant skewed sex ratios in offsprings • Transplant Record an interview with the Daily Express (March Nightly patrols are conducted by rangers on and lower hatching success rate, several fac­ • Hatchery Record 14, 1991), the Permanent Secretary of the Sa bah the nesting beach. The first shift starts from tors justified the continuation of hatchery • Daily Hatching Record Ministry of Tourism and Environmental De­ 8:00 p.m. and ends at 1:00 a.m.; the second operations. These factors include the existing • Hatching Rates or Percentages velopment said: "We know that the eggs are shift is from 1:00 a.m. to 6;00 a.m. During this environmental conditions of the islands, nest • Turtle Survey popular in Brunei, but we are not certain period, the rangers undertake excavation and superimposition and predation of natural • Yearly Summary Record whether the turtle eggs are exported to other transplantation of eggs to the hatchery, tag­ nests. • Rainfall and Temperature Record countries from there." This incidence indi­ ging nesters, releasing hatchlings, and col­ cates that the demand of turtle eggs is not lecting of turtle data. Hatchling Management. Hatchlings start Other information, such as mortality of restricted to local consumption. emerging from their nests between 7:30 and adult turtles, are also recorded. Trawlers are tempted to fish within the 8:00p.m. Hatchlings are counted and taken to The high demand for turtle eggs abroad park because of the rich marine life. During the beach where they allowed left to crawl Turtle Research. In 1989, a visiting profes­ has prompted suppliers to look for new ways daytime, the rangers patrol the territorial w a­ seaward. Visitors and tourists are given a sor of The Malaysian National University, of obtaining eggs. Sabah Parks officials en­ ters to prevent trawlers from encroaching and chance to observe the hatchlings before they Sabah Campus (UIuntereda dead turtle at P. Selingaan with fishing within park. are released at about 10:00 p.m. Hatchlings with the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, pro­ an incised stomach. Subsequently, observa­ are released at several sites to prevent predators posed the formation of a joint research pro­ tions on adjacent waters outside the state Since the park is located opposite the Sugut from gathering in "feeding stations." gram on sea turtle between the Sabah Parks jurisdiction revealed that foreign fishermen River,logsandothertypesofwoodarewashed and the UIwenclosed found dead. Four died of unknown causes, direction of park rangers and tour guides. Visitors generating various records required with this mesh type. while one died due to net-related drowning. are not allowed to approach beaching turtles, to by Sabah Parks for administrative pur­ 15 green turtles were found dead during the use flashlights and photograph turtles before egg pose and public information services. first seven months of 1993. Five died of A plastic netlon mesh likewise encloses the laying. In addition, only 28 tourists may stay unknown causes, eight died due to net-re­ hatchery, and prevents predators, e.g., iguana, overnight in the park. The data bank was successfully devel­ lated drowning, and two died from dynamite rats and crabs from preying upon the clutches. oped a year later. The computer sub-pro­ fishing. Turtle Data Collection. Data obtained from grams were written in DBase IV language The ex situ hatching success is 73.5%. the beach survey and from the hatchery are (Tajudin Mahmud et. a!, undated). Unfor­ Mortimer (1991a) comments that the result is recorded anuall y and kept in files. A total of tunately, the program was discontinued due 7. Sea Turtle Management Activities "quite good when compared to other hatcher­ 12 forms are used for this purpose, namely: to a change in personnel in the UKMS. The ,ies." However, she cautions that "it is low • New Tags former dean of the UKMS has been assigned Turtle management and conservation ac­ when compared to the green turtle hatching • Turtle Tag Return as head of the new Iy established University of tivities at the park include the patrol ofbeaches success in natural nests." • Turtle Tag Check Malaysia in Sarawak. and surrounding waters, hatchery manage­ • Reports of Foreign Tags or Tags from ment, hatchlings management, turtle tagging, While the management is aware of the Another Location The Sabah Park does not conduct any visitor management, and data collection. negative effects of hatchery operation, e.g., • Egg Record Collection other research program aside from data col- 142 143 l.)~

2. Early Conservation Efforts · Game and· Bird Sanctuaries and were later Consequently, P. Selingaan, P. Bakkungaan occurred on February 20,1986 (de Silva, 1986), declared as a National Park. Kechi! and P.Gulisaan, being the most and the latest record was on January 4, 1988 De Silva (1982) reviewed the early turtle important turtle rookeries in Sabah, were (Basintal, 1988). The eggs were transplanted conservation policies of the state. In 1927, the chosen as turtle conservation areas and into the hatchery. The first nesting of 97 eggs colonial administrators initiated the conser­ 3. The Sabah Turtle Islands Park established as a National Park. Pulau failed to hatch after 62 days of incubation (de vation of hawksbills which were killed for its Sipadan remains as a Game and Bird Silva, 1986). The second nesting occurred on shells in the Kudat water. Subsequently, Ga­ The Sabah Turtle Islands Park was Sanctuary since 1934. January 2, 1987 in P. Selingaan with a clutch zette Notifications 227 and 228 of 1928 were gazetted on October 1, 1977. The park is size of 98 eggs. However, only 66 hatchlings enacted, that prohibited the capture of turtles composed of the following islarids: In Pulau Sipadan, a Malay family holds emerged after an incubation period of 49 for 12 months. A close season every other year P.Selingaan (8.1 ha.), P. Bakkungaan Kechi! the customary right to collect turtle eggs days. The third nesting also occurred in P. for six years was imposed. In 1933, the resi­ (8.5 ha.), and P. Gulisaan (1.6 ha.). These (Mortimer, 199Ia). The customary right was Selingaan on February 12, 1987, and produced dents of Sandakan were issued an exclusive islands form part of the chain of turtle islands, granted by the Sultan of Sulu 200 years ago to 63 hatchlings out of the 75 transplanted eggs. license to collect turtle eggs that was valid for with several islands belonging to the their ancestors. Recently, the family has ceased The fourth nesting occurred at P. Gulisaan on three years. Prior to 1964, the Turtle Preserva­ Philippines. The park is located some 40 km egg collection when they entered into a pack­ January 4, 1988 with a dutch size of 127 eggs. tion Ordinance No. five of 1952 was weakly north of Sandakan in the Sulu Sea. It lies age sales and purchase agreement with the After49 days, 125 hatchlings emerged. These enforced due to the remote location of the within 6° 09' to 6° 11' latitude, and 118° 03' to three tour operators in P. Sipadan. The three nestings occurred only during the early islands. 118° 06' longitude. tour operators agreed to pay the family M$ months of the year. No other olive ridley 50,000 annually for four years in addition to a nesting was reported. The 1963 Fauna Conservation Ordinance The park was established to improve tur­ one-time ex-gratia sum of M$ 70,000 (Daily came into force in 1964. Consequently, all tle conservation efforts which includes the Express, November 5, 1993). With this latest matters relating to turtles were placed under management of hatcheries. Besides the turtle development, all eggs laid on the island are &.Socio-economic Importance of Turtles the jurisdiction of the Conservator of Forest. A conservation program, limited tourist activi­ totally utilized for in situ hatching. This project, conservation policy was then formulated and ties are allowed. Three chalets and one office­ under the management of the Wildlife De­ Despite the ban on egg collection in P. accepted by the government. The policy like­ cum-cafeteria have been erected in P. partment, becomes another milestone on tur­ Selingaan, P. Bakkungaan Kechi! and P. wise banned the issuance of licenses for kill­ Selingaan. No development have been initi­ tle conservation in the state of Sabah. Gulisaan since 1972, the sale of turtle eggs in ing turtles and strictly enforced the close sea­ ated in the two other islands. Keeping tourist Sandakan continues. De silva {1979) claims son in March for egg collection. The close facilities to a minimum shows the priority for that the town is supplied with eggs harvested season was not successfully implemented due turtle conservation. 5. Turtle Species from Bakkungaan Besar and Taganak. More to various problems. recently, the Sabah Wildlife Department Di­ Available records indicate that only the rector substantiates the claim that "turtle eggs An experimental turtle hatchery was es­ 4. Nesting Sites green and hawksbill turtles have been ob­ on sale illegally in Sandakan were smuggled tablished in P. Selingaan on August 1, 1966. served in the waters of Sabah by the colonial in from a neighboring country" (Daily Ex­ Two other hatcheries in P. Gulisaan and P. Sabah has several turtle nesting sites. administrator and other research workers (de press, April 14, 1992). The current price of Bakkungaan Kechi! were subsequently estab­ Under the Turtle Regulations of 1964, tenderers Silva, 1986). The presence of other species, turtle egg in Sandakan ranges between M$ lished on March 5 and 6, 1968 respectively as may be granted exclusive rights to collect such as the leatherback and the olive ridley 0.50-0.60. a result of the experience obtained from oper­ turtle eggs in P. Selingaan, P. Bakkungaan was noted initially in 1977 and 1986 respec­ ating the hatchery in Selingaan. The hatchery Kechil, P. Gulisaan, P. Tegapil, P. Lanyakan, P. tively (de Silva, 1986). It was not determined The demand for turtle eggs is not confined operations were not successful due to the Bilean, P. Koyan Koyan and P. Nunu Nunukan whether the leatherback nested in Sa bah; and to Sandakan. On September 14 1989, a Brunei difficulty in obtaining eggs from licenses who (de Silva, 1969). PulauSipadan,anativereserve, de Silva (1986) believed that their occurrence businessman was detained by custom offi­ preferred to sell the eggs to Chinese was also identified as an important turtle in Sabah "were either strays or in the process cials at the Kota Kinabalu International Air­ middlemen for greater profit. The failure of rookery (de Silva, 1982; Mortimer, 1991a). of migrating towards nesting beaches in Phil­ port during an attempt to smuggle out 6,500 the hatchery program, coupled with the threats Control and management of these islands, ippine or Indonesian waters." turtle eggs (Asia Times, Sept. 16, 1989). The to turtle habitats prompted the state govern­ except for P. Selingaan, P. Bakkungaan Kechi! offense is a violation of Section 135(1)(a) of the ment to acquire the islands from private own­ and P. Gulisaan, are difficult to enforce due to The olive ridley had four recorded neslings Customs Act. The businessman was sen­ ership. These islands were established as their inaccessibility and the threats of piracy. in the Turtle Islands Park. The first nesting tenced to a prison term of one year when he 141 140=-~~------nthlltllll tiiJtil fll,un Tt>clzllical Rt.>por

lection and tagging. However, the park con­ ing season for green turtles .would be July to creation of an International Marine Sanctuary pines. It is recommended that agencies it tinues toga ther records on nesting, migration December, while hawksbill turtles from Janu­ that encompasses the Turtle Islands Park and valved in turtle management in both the Phi and remigration. The information was used ary through June for all islands. the Philippines Islands of Boaan, Baguan, ippines and Sabah, Malaysia embark on as basis for turtle management schemes. Taganak, Lihiman, Langaan, and Bakkungaan joint management effort to save the turtl The nesting records of the Wildlife De­ Besar. Although IUCN pursued the matter, it populations of the Sulu Sea. The Sabah Park is interested in conducting partment in P. Sipadan since January 1989 was treated with reservation by the country researches on sex ratio, improved tagging show a slight difference in nesting season. concerned. "The Philippine marine scientists 10. Tables methods, and turtle monitoring system. The The peak period, for instance, is during Octo­ are hesitant because it might turn out to be a Pawikan Conservation Project of the Philip­ ber through January with five to ten green diplomatic issue." (Icamina, undated). The pines and our counterpart from the Peninsu­ turtle nestings per night, while the low nest­ park does not have any international linkages Table 1 Egg Harvest in the Turtle Islands lar Malaysia are more advanced in their re­ ing season is from February to September on turtle management and conservation. Park.1979-1993. search activities. Perhaps, they could extend with three to five nestings per night (D. Gakim ISLAND their programs to the Turtle Islands Park as in. !itt. to P. Basintal, 1993). YEAR TOTAL BAKKKE~~~LAAN well. 9. Conclusion SEL!NGAAN GULISAAN 1979 146,729 Migration. The tagging program in the 163,082 77,417 31>7,228 From 1980-1987, there has been a decline 1980 167,519 92,399 73,333 333,251 Park was initiated prior to 1977 (Turtle Islands 1981 115,831 of nestings in the Turtle Islands Park, a con­ 97,296 72,726 285,853 8. Result and Discussion of Management Park Annual Report, 1977). A cattle monel tag 1982 112,029 109,772 80,582 302,383 Activity is applied on the trailing edge of the left tinuation of the pattern since 1965. A reversal 1983 90,045 69,372 75,447 234,873 flipper. The tag bears a return address and of the trend was noted beginning 1988. Al­ 1984 104,965 96,91>6 95,244 297,195 1985 77,599 67,895 Trend of Nesting. The nesting pattern from offers a reward of US$ 5.00 for information on though there is an increase in the number of 103,134 248,628 green turtles (3682 in 1991; 2676 in 1992; and 1986 81,559 66,956 94,298 242,813 198Q-87shows a downward trend. For instance, tag recoveries. More than 36,854 turtles have 1987 75,605 1992 until June 1993), it is difficult to deter­ 53,483 94,449 223,537 333,251 eggs were harvested in 1980 while only been tagged since its implementation. Only 1988 137,015 74,191 125,142 336,3.JH 223,537 were gathered in 1987 (Table 1). This six recoveries were reported until 1979, of mine whether these tagged turtles are recruits 1989 198,717 68,027 123,033 389,777 trend is also evident from 1965-79. An gradual which four were reported from the Philip­ to the breeding populations. 1990 128,482 123,487 139,758 391,727 1991 500,962 increase in egg production was observed since pines and the remaining two from Indonesia 334,424 321,291 I, 156,677 The peak and lean nesting season in Turtle 1992 266,523 J03,2oi 226,086 595,H70 1988. A total of 336,348 eggs were harvested in (de silva, 1979). Thirty seven tags were recov­ 1993' 349,062 187,516 225,282 76UloO 1988 while 595,870 eggs were gathered in ered and reported from 1980 to April 1993 Islands Park shows slight variation within 1992. The first ten months of 1993 yielded (Table 2). Thirty five (35) recoveries were islands. Generally, for green turtles it would 761,860 eggs. A phenomenal harvest was reported from the Philippines; the Republic of be from July through December, and for recorded in 1991 amounting to 1,156,677 eggs. Palau and Indonesia had one recovery each. hawksbill turtles from January through June. With the exception of the 1991 record, the 1993 The two domestic recoveries came from P. figure would reflect the highest egg harvest Miaga and P. Sipadan. The management activities of sea turtles since 1965. While the increaseineggproduction includes beach and surrounding waters pa­ since 1988 is encouraging, it is still too early to In addition, 17 turtles bearing Philippines trol, hatchery management, hatchling man­ draw conclusions. tags were observed to nest in the Park since agement, visitor management, and data col­ 1982. From their migration pattern, it can be lection. Although Mortimer (1991b) had rec­ Nesting season. Although the three turtle concluded that the turtle populations in the ommended ways for improvement of turtle islands within the national park are close to Sulu Sea is a shared resource between the management, she nevertheless commented each other, nevertheless, they show a variation Philippines and Sabah, Malaysia. that "the nesting populations of these islands on the peak and lean nesting season. The peak have been better managed than those any­ nesting period for P. Selingaan is from International Cooperation. A joint effort where else in the country - including the September to October. On the other hand, the in themanagementofthesea turtle populations Peninsula and Sara w ak." peak nesting season in P. Bakkungaan Kechi) in theSuluSeahaslongbeen proposed. During is from August to October. The peak nesting the World Conference on Sea Turtles in The tagging program indicates that major­ pel'iod for Gulisaan is March. The peak nest- Washington D.C., de Silva (1979)suggeststhe . ity of tag recoveries come from the Philip- 144 145

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Table 2 Long-range Tag Recoveries from the Tur­ 11. References tle Islands Park. Sabah, Malaysia. MahmudTajudin, et al. (widated). Progress report on the "Cruel Method of killing turtles evokes official I. Sibuyan Is., 117.P. Maiga, establishmentofthe data bankfor sea turtles in Sabah. concern " Daily Express, 13 March 1991 Philippines Sempoma, Sa bah Basintal, P. 1988. Notes on olive ridley turtle. Malaysia . Unpublished. 3 pp. 2. Taganak Is., Tawi-tawi, Mortimer J. A. 1991 a. Recommendations for the "Selingan Turtles' due to costlier eggs abroad." Plulippines management of the marine tunle populations of Daily Express, 14 March 1991 18. E.B. Magalona, De Silva, G.S. 1969. Turtle conservation in Sabah. 3. Baguan Is., Tawi-tawi, Negros Is. Pulau Sipadan, Sabah. WWF-Malaysiaunpub­ "Turtle Egg trade only for those with rights." Philippines 1 Plulippines Sabah Society Journal 5:6-26. lished report, pp. 1-36 Daily Express, 14 April 1992. 4. Bowen ls. 19. Zamboanguita, Philippines Negros ls. De Silva, G.S. 1979. The status of sea turtle Plu1ippines Mortimer J. A. 1991 b. Recommendations for the Turtle Island Park Annual Report, 1977. Unpub­ 5. Great 5ta. Cruz Is., population in East Malaysia and the South Philippines management of turtle islands park, Sabah. lished. 20. Ba!imbing. Tawi-tawi China Sea. In: Bjomdal, K. A. (ed.). Biology Philippin<> WWF-Malaysia unpublished report, pp. 1-28. 6. Barrio Azagra, Romblon,/ and conservation of sea turtles. Smithsonian Philippines 21. Bilangane Is., "Pact ends turtle eggs collection." Daily Express, Philippines Institution Press: Washington D.C, pp. 327-37. 7. Gibraltar, Masbate Is., "Smuggling out 6,500 turtle eggs a Brunei Native 05 November 1993. Philippines 22. Sangalantei, Fined RM 10,000, unable to pay- imprisoned Bilang-bilang. De Silva, G.S. 1982. Protected areas and turtle 8. Iloilo, Panay Is., Indonesia one year." Asia Times, 16 September 1989. Philippines eggs in Sabah, East Malaysia. Proceedings 23. Bilangane Is., World Congress on National Parks. Bali, Indo­ 9. Bus-bus, Jolo, Philippines Philippines nesia. Pp. 154-159. 24. Poh-Poh, Balimbing. 10. Baguan Is., Tawi-tawi, Philippines DISCUSSION Philippines De Silva, G.S. 1986. Turtle tagging and interna­ 25. Zamboanguita, II. ' ngutaran, Sulu, Negros Occ., tional tag returns from Sabah, East Malaysia. 1 1ilippmes Philippines Sarawak Museum Journal36, 263-71.

12. r.~..ioban City, 26. Baguan Is., Tawi-tawi Philippines Plulippines Gakim D. 1993. Information on turtles in P. DR. DE VEYRA: Is poaching rampant in the BASINTAL: We have iguana and rats. Rats 13. Lihiman Is., Tawi-tawi, 27. North Lubian, Sipadan. JHL(smp) 200/25/0 I. Philippines Pangutaran, Sabah Parks? are common in the island. We cannot kill Philippines these because the island has a park status. 14. Surillao, Icamina, P. __ . Rampant smuggling hampers Philippines 28. Batu-bato, Balimbing MR. BASINT AL: As far as poaching is con­ Anything within the park may not be killed. campaign to save sea turtles. Depthnews Sci­ Philippines cerned, it is occurring within the park, in P. 15. Baguan Is., Tawi-tawi, ence Service, No. 58-83. Plulippines 29. Surillao, Selingaan alone. Apart from our rangers, we MS. CALIMAG: In your experience or obser­ Philippines 16. Sipadan Is., have workers staying in the island. No other vation as the Park Warden in the Turtle Is­ Sempoma, Sabah, 30. Tacloban City people are staying. We also have a police Malaysia Philippines lands, do you think you get maximum benefit force that is based on that island. lam not sure in allowing tourist to go in the park? Or what whether it is appropriate for me to tell this or could the impact of tourists or the volume of About the Authors not. But maybe I should because we do have tourists in the turtle sanctuary? incidents of poachers from the other side who Paul Basintal was park warden in the East Coast Parks go to the island. Our staff is unarmed so we BASINTAL: Before, the volume of people Regional Office, Sandakan, Malaysia from 1987 to 1990. He cannot do anything. They simply go to the coming there was very low but now it has was head of the turtle conservation and research program. hatchery and dig up whatever they want. started increasing. And if I am not mistaken, And this occurs especially towards the we have more than 10,000 tourists in 1992 who Hariraya, the Muslim festival. stayed that year. So far, I cannot see any visual Mak.larin La kim is the park warden in the East Coast Parks, impact because the turtles still nest in the Sandakan, Malaysia since June 1991. DE VEYRA: Well, that's the reason why I island, P. Selingaan contributes 40% of the asked. So we understand each other. I just eggs harvested within the Turtle Islands. So want to know what kind of predators exist in it is still on the increase because we limit the your park. number of visitors. We also make sure that the 146------147