There has been an increased number of hawksbill turtle nests found in Singapore this year, marking a positive development in the city-state’s conservation efforts.
So far, a total of 18 nests have been found in Singapore’s beaches, up from an average of 11 nests recorded per year from 2021 to 2024, according to Dr Karenne Tun, the group director of the National Biodiversity Centre under the country’s National Parks Board (NParks).
NParks has yet to determine any clear trend from the rise in numbers.
Female hawksbill turtles come to Singapore shores every year from May to October to lay their eggs, with nesting hot spots identified in East Coast Park and Changi, among others.
The first recorded hawksbill turtle nest was in early June, when NParks discovered a batch of 123 hawksbill eggs at East Coast Park.
They were immediately retrieved and moved to the Sisters’ Island Marine Park turtle hatchery to protect them from human traffic and predators.
Of the 123 eggs, 76 hatchlings were released in the sea off Sisters’ Islands – another popular nesting spot on July 25, according to a report by The Straits Times.
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Hawksbill turtles face constant danger, both man-made and natural
Hawksbill turtles are a critically endangered species and are one of the two native sea turtles in Singapore.
Their name comes from their narrow, pointed beak, which they use to eat sponges from the crevices of reefs, although they also feed on sea anemones and jellyfish.
While hawksbills regularly visit Singapore during nesting season, the city-state’s other turtle species – the green turtle, has not been recorded laying its eggs on local beaches.
However, the similarly endangered green turtle is much more common in Malaysia compared to hawksbills. As such, the nesting activity for this species is higher in the neighboring country.
Despite the rise in the number of hawksbill turtle nests, the species still faces several dangers, both man-made and natural.
An adult female hawksbill may be able to lay hundreds of eggs, but not all are guaranteed to hatch.
The hatching process takes about two months, and if experts do not intervene, the nests are highly vulnerable to disturbances such as heavy foot traffic and predators, while there is also the risk of being flooded by high tides.
Around one in 1,000 sea turtle hatchlings, or less than 0.1%, is able to survive until adulthood, with hawksbills taking approximately two decades to mature.
But even then, the threats still remain.
Hawksbill turtles are often hunted for their highly-valuable colored and patterned shells, which are commonly sold as “tortoiseshells” in markets, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
They are also in danger due to the loss of nesting beaches, reclamation and other land uses, and sea pollution.
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Singapore experts’ nearly two decades of conservation efforts
Researchers in Singapore have been working together for nearly two decades to conserve the city-state’s native sea turtles.
However, NParks doubled down its efforts in 2016 when it launched a program where it conducts biodiversity beach patrols during nesting season between 5am and 7am to search for nesting turtles, laid nests and hatchlings.
There have been about 170 hawksbill turtle sightings between 2020 and June 2025, including nests and turtle tracks, said Tun.
This is significantly higher than the 66 turtle sightings from 2005 to 2016.
Furthermore, Sisters’ Island Marine Park turtle hatchery was established in 2018 to shelter nests at risk of disturbance and damage, and also raise the hatchlings’ chances of living.
The National Biodiversity Centre’s coastal and marine branch have also decided to attach flipper tags and satellite trackers on female hawksbill turtles that arrive in Singapore to nest.
This allows the center to effectively research Singapore’s turtles and their nesting behavior, as well as the effects of global warming on their future.
NParks constantly reminds the public to keep their distance should they encounter a nesting turtle, and avoid shining lights or talking loudly as these can startle the mother and cause her to leave without laying her eggs.
They must also steer clear of turtle tracks, which researchers use to identify the species of turtle and to locate the nests.
Those interested in helping with Singapore’s sea turtle monitoring efforts can join NParks’ Biodiversity Beach Patrol through its website.
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