Terengganu’s ‘Turtle King’ may return twice more this season

Terengganu’s leatherback turtle, known locally as the “Turtle King,” may return to the same waters twice more before November after reappearing there following a nine-year absence.

State Tourism, Culture, Environment and Climate Change Committee chairman Datuk Razali Idris said leatherback turtles are believed to visit the same waters up to three times during one season. The turtle recently came ashore and laid eggs at Gong Balai Beach in Marang. Authorities found 44 eggs and safely moved them to a hatchery at Rantau Abang.

The return carries particular weight for Rantau Abang, where leatherback turtles were once closely associated with the coastline. Their numbers have since declined sharply, and the species had not been recorded landing on Terengganu’s beaches for almost nine years.

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If we follow the old people’s saying, this turtle visits three times in one season and stays around the waters where it first stopped. So, based on that, there could be two more visits this season, expected before November.

Razali said leatherbacks are the world’s largest turtles, with bodies that can reach more than two to three meters. Their eggs are also about three times larger than ordinary turtle eggs. He said the Rantau Abang stretch, extending from Pasir Putih and Gong Balai to Rantau Abang and toward Seberang Pintasan in Dungun, could still provide important habitat.

The state government will soon meet about 70 tourism industry players and more than 20 agencies on Pulau Redang. Discussions will cover boat transfers, day-trip operations and whether to limit the number of visitors or divers to ease pressure on coral reefs and other marine ecosystems. “I want to meet all the operators because they earn their living on the island, and they also need to look after it,” Razali said.

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I want to meet all the operators because they earn their living on the island, and they also need to look after it. There is a proposal to limit either the number of people visiting the island or the number of people taking part in diving activities. We will discuss it and see what is suitable.