Endangered Sea Turtle Population in the Coral Triangle on the Rise

A record number of 1.44 million endangered green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) eggs were laid last year on Baguan Island, southern Philippines, achieving an all-time high since 1984. Based on life expectancy rates, these eggs are expected to grow into approximately 13,000 adult sea turtles, boosting a population classified as endangered under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

The expected increase in the sea turtle population supports the goals of the CTI-CFF to improve the status of threatened species. This achievement is a direct result of conservation, enforcement, and community engagement programs implemented through USAID’s Coral Triangle Support Partnership and Conservation International. Baguan is one of nine islands comprising the Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Area in the Coral Triangle, jointly managed by Malaysia and the Philippines.

Marine resource management programs in Baguan include strengthening the capacity of the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard to enforce rules against sea turtle poaching; engaging local communities through conservation agreements; introducing alternative livelihood programs to reduce dependency on marine resources; and facilitating bilateral eco-tourism development in the area. To see more photos of the turtles and their nesting grounds, follow this link.

Caption: A green sea turtle laying eggs in Baguan
Credit: A.G. Sano/Conservation International