Tiny turtles take their first steps towards the sea
Updated: 08/10/2026 - 18:18 GMT+2 On Mataking Island in Malaysia, conservationists raise and release green turtle hatchlings, part of long-running efforts...
Updated: 08/10/2026 - 18:18 GMT+2
On Mataking Island in Malaysia, conservationists raise and release green turtle hatchlings, part of long-running efforts that helped the species recover.
On Mataking Island, off Malaysia's Sabah state, conservation staff collect green turtle hatchlings, place them in boxes and release them on the beach.
The tiny turtles then crawl towards the sea as staff watch them enter the water.
The work is part of decades of conservation efforts that have helped the species recover globally.
The Mataking hatchery has collected about 36,000 eggs since it opened in 2006, according to its managing director. It works with WWF-Malaysia and the Sabah Wildlife Department to protect nests and improve survival rates.
Adult turtles can also be seen feeding and swimming around the island's coral reefs.
