More than 100 green sea turtle hatchlings made their way from the beach to the sea at Kenting National Park on Saturday, the fourth time this year that sea turtles have nested in Kenting.
Kenting National Park Headquarters worked with ecological volunteers to monitor the site, safeguarding the hatchlings as they crawled to the sea.
The park’s Conservation Department said that the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春半島) is a popular site for sea turtle nesting, with increasing numbers of turtles laying eggs there in the past few years.
Photo courtesy of a reader
It is not easy for sea turtles to come ashore and lay eggs, so timing is precious, the department said.
Residents and businesses have participated in conservation courses, cooperated with conservation efforts and shown respect for the marine environment, allowing this part of the ocean to continue nurturing life, it said.
Green sea turtles have an innate sense of direction, returning to the beach they were born to lay eggs even though they have moved or traveled hundreds or even thousands of kilometers to forage for food, the park said.
With sea turtles nesting in Kenting more frequently in the past few years, the park said it is hopeful that the area’s sea turtle population would one day rival that of Siaoliouciou Island (小琉球).
Residents said they are hoping for the birth of more turtles, as another nest has shown clear signs of crawl marks, although hatchlings have yet to be spotted.
The park works with the Ocean Conservation Administration to inspect nesting sites, ensuring that eggs are not disturbed by humans, light pollution or climate change.
People should follow the “five noes” when they encounter sea turtles: Do not touch, harass, feed, chase or harm them, it said.
People who discover a stranded or struggling sea turtle can call the Coast Guard Administration’s number, 118, it said.
Local conservationists said tourists should avoid beaches where turtles nest at night and limit light usage to ensure that hatchlings do not get lost due to light pollution.
After playing on the beach, visitors should even out the sand and remove all trash to clear the path for hatchlings to crawl to the sea, they said.
Aside from working with volunteers, residents and businesses to protect the area, the park said it would continue to promote environmental education and conservation efforts.
The latest sea turtle hatching is a testament to the recovery of Kenting’s marine ecology, it added.
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
RSS