Conservationists ensure nesting grounds on South China Sea islands are protected

Editor's note: As protection of the planet's flora, fauna and resources becomes increasingly important, China Daily is publishing a series of stories to illustrate the country's commitment to safeguarding the natural world.

The islands in the South China Sea serve as an important habitat for sea turtles, with 90 percent of China's sea turtle population found there.

"Sea turtles have a unique habit — they return to the place where they were born to lay eggs when they reach adulthood," said Li Yupei, director of the Marine Protected Area Administration of Sansha City in Hainan province.

"The Xisha Islands are favored nesting grounds for green turtles. By protecting the beach where they were born, generations of sea turtles will continue to return to lay eggs," he added.

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In 2017, a turtle protection center was established on the North Island, a part of the Xisha Islands.

Experts from Chinese universities, along with staff at the protection center, protect the turtles and their habitats and conduct studies on the status of green sea turtle populations.

Since the 1980s, the global populations and habitats of green sea turtles have seen a significant decline due to factors such as marine pollution, human activities and climate change.

Sansha, composed of over 280 islands, shoals, reefs and atolls along with their surrounding waters, has established a 24-hour monitoring system for precious wildlife, including green sea turtles.

"Once the turtles approach the islands, the cameras capture images, contributing to the study and protection of the species," Li said.

An important task for Yu Yangfei, a turtle patrol officer in Sansha, is to locate the nests where turtles lay eggs during the breeding season from June to September, and assist in the conservation and monitoring of hatching, helping the young turtles return to the sea.

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"The survival rate of sea turtles is very low. A typical clutch of turtle eggs may have dozens, but ultimately only around one in a thousand hatchlings can successfully evade all predators and survive to adulthood," Yu said.

In over seven years since the establishment of the protection center, Yu and his colleagues have rescued more than 280 green sea turtles and helped tens of thousands of them return to the sea.

Conservation efforts are yielding tangible results, with a total of nearly 2,000 nests containing green sea turtle eggs discovered on the Xisha Islands.

Shi Yudie contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at yandongjie@chinadaily.com.cn