Hatchling Hawksbill Turtles at Singapore Oceanarium

Singapore Oceanarium and National Parks Board (NParks) partner to provide a head start for eight Hawksbill turtle hatchlings for conservation, research and public learning

Turtle hatchlings undergo specialist care before eventual release into the wild

Critically Endangered Hawksbill hatchlings

Singapore Oceanarium at Resorts World Sentosa, in partnership with the National Parks Board (NParks), received eight Hawksbill turtle hatchlings in October last year as part of an ongoing headstarting¹ programme designed to improve their chances of survival during their critical first phase of life.

SGO Hawksbill hatchlings

The hatchlings, identified as H12 to H19, were hatched at NParks’ turtle hatchery at Small Sister’s Island in October 2025, and have been under specialist care at Singapore Oceanarium where they underwent quarantine, veterinary assessment and early-life husbandry. Six months on, the eight turtles have been moved to a front-of-house habitat at the Horizontal Migration Zone where they will continue to receive care. They will remain in the care of Singapore Oceanarium until they are assessed to have a strong chance of survival in the wild and released.

Hawksbill hatchlings SGO

The programme brings together the complementary strength of Singapore Oceanarium’s marine animal care expertise, public education and research capabilities, and NParks’ conservation expertise in safeguarding Singapore’s native biodiversity. Together, both organisations aim to advance public understanding of marine turtle conservation in Singapore.

The Hawksbill turtle is listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Their earliest phase of life is the most perilous for these turtles, with survival estimates for hatchlings reaching adulthood often cited in the range of 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 10,000 due to predation and other natural and human-caused threats. The headstarting programme for these hatchlings helps them during this highly vulnerable life stage, allowing them to grow bigger, which increases their chances of survival before release.

Singapore Oceanarium Hawksbill hatchlings

In 2019, the then S.E.A. Aquarium launched the first phase of the headstarting effort with NParks, with the support from the Marine Turtle Working Group and Friends of Marine Park.

During this period, 10 hatchlings were received and reared under expert care before being progressively released in 2023 and 2024. Three individuals from that cohort were fitted with satellite tags to support post-release monitoring and deepen the understanding of turtle movements and survival. Two of the individuals headed south towards Indonesia, a few days after being released at the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park. The third individual headed north along Malacca Straits, towards southern Thailand.

Critically Endangered Hawksbill hatchlings SGO

The latest cohort of eight hatchlings builds on this foundation and represents the next phase of the collaborative effort.

From 11 May 2026, the eight Hawksbill turtles will become part of Singapore Oceanarium’s efforts to connect visitors with the science and significance of marine conservation. Through the turtles’ journey, visitors will be able to learn more about Singapore’s marine biodiversity, the threats facing sea turtles, and the long-term work required to support wildlife recovery.

SGO Critically Endangered Hawksbill hatchlings

Since their arrival at SGO, the hatchlings have been cared for with a strong emphasis on maintaining natural conditions to ensure they are able to integrate back into the wild after release. This includes the use of natural feeding practices and the installation of heavily tinted privacy films in the entire habitat tank to prevent the hatchlings from becoming too familiar with human beings.

Nick Derbyshire, Senior Director of Animal Care at Singapore Oceanarium, said: “Giving these hatchlings a stronger start can make a real difference to their survival in the wild. Through this partnership with NParks, we are combining field conservation, specialist care and public outreach to improve outcomes for a critically endangered species, while deepening public understanding of Singapore’s marine biodiversity.”

Dr Karenne Tun, Group Director, National Biodiversity Centre, NParks, said: “This partnership reflects the value of bringing together field conservation, specialist animal care and public outreach in support of a threatened native species. NParks is pleased to work with Singapore Oceanarium on this effort, which contributes to both conservation outcomes and greater public awareness of Singapore’s marine biodiversity.”

Based on past growth trends the turtles may be considered for release after approximately 15-20 months, subject to their condition, development and health status. While no conservation programme can guarantee survival after release, the headstarting effort is designed to give them a better chance at survival in the wild. To support post-release monitoring, selected individuals may be later fitted with satellite and flipper tags, in accordance with established animal welfare guidelines on transmitter weight.

Data collected during their development and post-release will help inform future conservation efforts.

¹ Turtle headstarting is a conservation strategy where turtle hatchlings are raised till they are larger in size, before they are released into the wild, to bypass the most vulnerable stage of their life. This in turn increases their chances of survival.

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