Marang:A technical examination by the Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF) revealed that all 44 eggs from the first leatherback turtle nest laid at Pantai Pasir Putih on September 1 were unfertilised.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fisheries director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain explained that an inspection conducted on September 30, the 30th day of incubation, showed no signs of embryonic development in the eggs. These findings were detailed in a technical report by the Fisheries Research Institute in Rantau Abang on October 3.

The examination found no white spots on the eggshells, which are usually indicators of early embryonic development. Further analysis using a light source showed no developing blood vessels or embryo outlines. Adnan shared this information with reporters after inspecting leatherback turtle eggs at the Turtle Conservation and Information Centre (TCIC) hatchery in Rantau Abang.

Since September 1, there have been five recorded leatherback turtle landings along the Terengganu coast, resulting in a total of 313 eggs. Inspections found that the eggs had turned blackish and yellowish, with microorganisms and maggots present, indicating decomposition.

Adnan noted that the failure of these eggs to be fertilised adds to the challenges of conserving the species. This issue is a concern not only in Malaysia but also globally. Leatherback turtle landings in Terengganu were previously recorded in 2010 and 2017, but did not result in any hatchlings. The last successful hatching in Rantau Abang was in 2000, when only 115 out of 1,914 eggs hatched.

In contrast, green turtles have a higher hatching rate of 70 to 75 percent. Due to the low hatching rate of leatherback turtles, extreme caution is exercised when handling their eggs.