39 rare turtles hatch from eggs found

THIRTY-NINE Hawksbill turtles, which hatched from a clutch of eggs found in Jurong Island two weeks ago, have been handed over to Underwater World.

The discovery of the eggs on Aug 7 created quite a stir, as the turtles, a highly-endangered species, are rare and hardly ever lay their eggs in Singapore. The hatchlings are the only ones to survive from the hundreds of eggs that were unearthed by workers.

Associate Professor Diong Cheong Hoong, the head of the Natural Science Academic Group at National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, cared for the turtles for 10 days before handing them over to Underwater World.

Half of the hatchlings will be released at Jurong Island in a month's time; the other half in a year.