Numbers of nests in 2011: 67 Number of successful hatchlings: around 4000
Basic facts
Two species visit the island to nest: the Hawksbill turtle and the Green turtle.
AN OVERVIEW OF THE TURTLE PROGRAM
The main idea is to facilitate the process of nesting and hatching and at the same time have a minimum impact on the turtles lives.
Even if we fence off the nests (mainly to keep the predators: monitor lizards, that live on the island away), we do not interfere with the natural cycle of the animals. We do not use any special incubation device or any fancy renesting, unless we think that the eggs would feel lost otherwise.
Unlike other parts of the Riau Archipelago, nobody comes to collect the eggs. So most of the eggs of the entire nesting population return to the sea. This is a real contribution to the protection and conservation of the ocean.
There are two species of turtles that nest on the island: the Green Turtle and the Hawksbill turtle.
The Hawksbill turtle is listed as a critically endangered specie.
There is an incubation period of 60 days between the time of the nesting and the hatching.
The main nesting time is between the months of March and September.
As the nesting is a nocturnal and unscheduled activity, the guests can request to be woken up during the night in order to experience turtle nesting and/or hatching. Please do not come to expect it, as nature does what nature does, when it wants, and how it wants.
Nonetheless witnessing the event is a privilege and a unique experience, for kids in particular.
We have security patrolling the beach at night, and they are the ones who find the most turtles. Otherwise, everyone would all be asleep and miss this amazing event... The dedication of the staff working on Nikoi is the key to our success, which allows us to protect the nests from the laying to the hatching.
The number of eggs varies, but we are now recording the data when it is available: it goes from 60 to 140 eggs in average.
If we discover a nest but were not present during the laying, we will leave the nest alone rather than digging it up in order to count the eggs for example.
The program is simple: do less to achieve more. Leave nature alone, stay out of the way if we can, enjoy it while we can and help when it is necessary.
Recording the sightings and hatchlings, taking photos to identify the turtles, involving humans in the process as witnesses, appreciating nature but never to the detriment of the turtles themselves... Educate by experiencing!
Turtle eggs are sold in Tanjung Pinang
They are priced as a delicacy. In the Malaysian culture turtle eggs are consumed and sold openly in the market.