Kota Kinabalu: Sea turtles have been using the waters surrounding Sabah for more than 100 million years, but environmental pressures and human activity have left their future uncertain, according to Gavin Jolis, a UMS Master’s student studying turtle conservation. 

He said his study at Tun Mustapha Park, one of the turtles’ most important habitats in Kudat, indicated low nesting activity. 

“Just 85 green turtles, 23 hawksbills and three olive ridley nests were averaged annually in our study conducted over 11 beaches in the marine park between 2009 and 2020. 

“In sharp contrast, nearly 14,000 green turtle nests are found annually at important breeding locations like Sandakan’s Turtle Islands,” he said.