Turtles at Bawah Reserve

Do sea turtles live in Indonesia? YES, THEY DO! And there is nothing more beautiful than swimming with sea turtles, watching them glide around the lagoon.  Here at Bawah Reserve sea turtle sightings are becoming a daily occurrence and thanks to the combined work of both the island team and the Anambas Foundation more and more turtles are being safely hatched and released. 

Here's our guide to sea turtles and turtle conservation at both Bawah Reserve and in Indonesia.

Sea Turtles of Indonesia

Where do sea turtles live in Indonesia? Six of the world’s seven sea turtle species can be found in Indonesia and there are sightings all over the Indonesian Archipelago.

Although sea turtles are now protected by international law, they continue to suffer from poaching and over-exploitation and are slaughtered for their eggs, meat, skin, and shells. Sea turtles also face habitat destruction and accidental capture in fishing gear, and nesting sites have been impacted by climate change. Sadly almost every species is now classified as vulnerable to endangered. Ref: WWF

A common sighting around Bawah Reserve is the Hawksbill.  Often spotted around the jetty. 

Life Cycle of a Sea Turtle 

How long do sea turtles live?  Have you ever wondered what the life cycle of sea turtles looks like? To study the life cycle of any species, we must take into account the development of their offspring, how and when the adults reproduce, and where and what they eat. Did you know that sea turtles migrate? They travel long distances across the oceans, from their feeding areas to the areas where they reproduce.

Saving Turtles

With 2 marine biologists (soon to be 4) working and living on Bawah Reserve we have been able to give nature a helping hand.  The island team conducts frequent patrols on our nesting beaches and when a nest is found it is relocated to our custom-made enclosure on our main beach to protect the nest from predators and poaching. Each nest contains approximately 60-100 eggs and takes around 60 days to develop and hatch. The location of the enclosure ensures that the nests are monitored 24/7, giving them the best chance of survival. 

Once hatched we enlist the help of our guests to release the turtle hatchlings back into the ocean. 

How many sea turtle hatchlings survive?

We are delighted to date that over 3000 turtles have successfully hatched!

Sea turtle nesting season is from approximately March to September each year. Sea turtle hatching season is from approximately April to October each year. We continue to collect eggs daily in season and to protect and release them. 

Here is a little video made by the island team of the first hatchings: