Nguyen Thanh Phuc, director of the Hon Cau Marine Protected Area Management Board in Lam Dong province, said on October 8 that a patrol team discovered signs of a mother sea turtle coming ashore at Bai Tau beach at around 7pm the previous evening.

Heavy rain prevented conservation workers from photographing the turtle or staying to observe the nesting process, as they normally would.

Based on the tracks and the turtle's observed appearance, the team identified it as a green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), weighing an estimated 80-90kg. The species is listed in Vietnam's Red Data Book.

When staff returned to inspect the site the following morning, they discovered a nest containing 82 eggs. All were carefully relocated to a fenced incubation area near a ranger station for protection.

Luu Yen Phi, a sea turtle specialist at Hon Cau, said green sea turtle eggs typically hatch after 45-60 days, depending on the temperature of the sand.

"Once the hatchlings emerge, we will monitor them as they make their way out of the sand and help them reach the sea," Phi said.

This marks the fifth recorded sea turtle nesting event on Hon Cau island this year.

Most recently, on the evening of September 11, another female green sea turtle weighing approximately 90kg came ashore and laid 101 eggs.

The Hon Cau Marine Protected Area, located in what was formerly Binh Thuan province, lies more than 110km from Phan Thiet. It covers approximately 12,500 hectares, including the 140-hectare Hon Cau island.

Over the past decade, the island has recorded between six and 15 sea turtle nesting visits annually, mostly between May and October. Conservation teams regularly monitor and protect the nesting beaches.

Xuan Ngoc