The fact that six mother turtles simultaneously came ashore to nest in one night at Hon Bay Canh is considered a positive sign, marking the beginning of the breeding season and demonstrating the effectiveness of conservation efforts in Con Dao National Park.
Tourists volunteer to help mother turtles give birth in Con Dao, July 2025. Photo: Truong Thanh Duy.
Con Dao National Park reported that on the night of March 30th, the Hon Bay Canh Forest Ranger Station recorded six instances of mother turtles coming ashore to nest and lay eggs in a single night, the highest number so far this year. All the eggs were subsequently moved by the forest rangers to a safe incubation area.
The simultaneous appearance of many mother turtles in the early part of the season is considered a positive sign, reflecting stable habitat conditions and the effectiveness of conservation measures being maintained in the area.
Previously, from the beginning of the year until March 18th, the unit recorded 48 successful instances of mother turtles coming ashore to lay eggs at Hon Bay Canh. This number is higher than the annual pattern, as the sea turtle season usually begins in April.
The Hon Bay Canh forest ranger station marks the location where the mother turtle nested on the night of March 30. Photo: Con Dao National Park.
According to the Hon Bay Canh Forest Ranger Station, May is the peak breeding season for sea turtles. From April to November each year, more than 600 mother turtles gather on the sandy beaches of Con Dao National Park to nest and lay eggs. On average, more than 150,000 hatchlings are rescued and released back into the sea each year, with a successful hatching rate of approximately 87%.
After mating, male turtles return to their foraging area after 2-4 weeks, while female turtles go ashore to nest and lay their first clutch of eggs. After each laying, they need about 11-13 days to produce eggs for the next. On average, each female turtle lays about 3 eggs per season, with the breeding cycle between seasons lasting from 1-5 years.
After being laid, turtle eggs hatch naturally after about 45-60 days. When they hatch, the hatchlings are released directly onto the sandy beach where the mother turtle laid her eggs. They crawl back to the sea on their own and remember this location as their "home," so they will return in the future.
To raise public awareness, Con Dao National Park has developed a program to take tourists to watch sea turtles lay eggs at night. These tours are guided by park rangers who are directly involved in protecting and researching sea turtles on the small islands. Each tour accommodates 2-20 guests, with prices ranging from 1.65-3.5 million VND per person. Tourists can also experience releasing baby turtles back into the sea, depending on the time of year.