Turtle Islands National Park, Marine conservation park in Sabah, Malaysia
Turtle Islands National Park protects three islands in the Sulu Sea off Sabah's coast with expansive marine areas. Selingaan is the only island with overnight accommodation and hosts an old hatchery, while the other two islands serve as nesting grounds for sea turtles.
Malaysia's first sea turtle hatchery was built on Selingaan in 1966 to protect eggs and hatchlings. The success of this effort led to the park's official protection status in 1977, securing the nesting sites for future generations.
The islands are places where visitors join rangers to watch sea turtles come ashore and learn about their protection. These experiences show how the community values the survival of these ancient animals and the health of their marine home.
Visitors can only reach the park by boat from Sandakan, which takes roughly an hour. Overnight stays are only available on Selingaan and must be arranged ahead of time, as accommodations fill quickly.
Green and hawksbill turtles arrive in synchronized seasonal waves to lay eggs, with dozens coming ashore on peak nights. This natural gathering of mass nesting is rare to witness and makes the islands a special window into sea turtle breeding biology.
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