Hatching success on relocated hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) nests in Padang kemunting Turtle hatchery, Malacca, and the implication of identified fungi

Abstract

In recent years, number of nesting hawksbill along the coast of Malacca had shown increasing trend. All the nests are relocated to Padang Kemunting Turtle Hatchery (PKTH) for incubation. However, low hatching rate was observed in the hatchery over the past few years and that was believed due to fungal infection on turtle eggs. In collaboration with Department of Fisheries and World Wide Fund for Nature, Malacca, this study was conducted to determine the hatching and emergence success rate of relocated nests in the hatchery, and identification of fungi isolated from unhatched eggs and sand from nest chamber. Overall, the hatching success rate of hawksbill turtle in PKTH range from O % to 92 %. The mean hatching and emergence success rate was 32.3 ± 25.0 % and 30.3 ± 23.3 %, respectively. Nests originated from Tanjung Belanga had the highest hatching rate (61.9 ± 36.9 %). Moreover, nests from Padang Kemunting were recorded with the highest contribution in hatchlings (45.8 %) among all sites.