Leatherback Monitoring Continues on the Huon Coast, Papua New Guinea
Author
Yusuf Adrian Jentewo
Date
23 Oktober 2025
In April 2025, Huon Coast Leatherback Turtle Project (HCLTP) wrapped up the second monitoring season at Lababia nesting beach, in Huon Gulf, Papua New Guinea. The first monitoring was conducted from December 2023 until March 2024. The Huon Gulf coastline is the second-largest nesting site for the Western Pacific leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), following West Papua, which hosts the highest nesting density for this population. This gulf is located in Morobe province, specifically within the Huon District. This sub-population is listed as critically endangered on The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List (2013) and urgently needs protection in its vital habitats.
To protect leatherback turtles along the Huon Gulf coast, the Huon Coast Leatherback Turtle Project (HCLTP) was launched in 2022 by the Ocean Ecology Network, with the University of Papua as the implementing partner. During the latest nesting season, monitoring was conducted from 16 November 2024 to 8 April 2025. A total of 147 people from Lababia Village participated, working in rotating teams of 13 each week. The community showed strong enthusiasm for the project, as it provided meaningful employment through work as local rangers. Beyond direct income, the project also strengthened the local economy, as earnings from the rangers circulated within the community and supported local livelihoods.
Lababia Rangers after their weekly refresher training
(Photo : HCLTP Team)
One of the Kamiali Wildlife Management Area (WMA) leaders signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ocean Ecology Network
(Photo : HCLTP Team)
On 13 November 2024, leaders of the Kamiali Wildlife Management Area (WMA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ocean Ecology Network, witnessed by village elders and community members. The agreement formalized the community’s trust and support for the project in their area. Through the MoU, the project committed to implementing its activities with transparency and inclusivity. In return, the community pledged their support by appointing local representatives to serve as rangers each week, helping ensure the work was carried out with dedication and responsibility.
Field Coordinator John Ben worked tirelessly to ensure the program ran smoothly on the ground. Throughout the nesting season, he traveled almost every week from Lae to Lababia, working closely with Lababia Coordinator Jack Nala to oversee local rangers who patrolled the nesting beach daily. The rangers recorded every nest and protected vulnerable ones from threats such as dogs, invasive plants, and high waves. They also built bamboo grids to prevent predators from digging up nests and relocated nests that were at risk due to environmental conditions. These efforts were critical in increasing hatchling survival and supporting leatherback population recovery.
Lababia Coordinator briefing rangers
(Photo : HCLTP Team)
Leatherback turtle nest protected from predators using a bamboo grid
(Photo : HCLTP Team)
The team recorded a significant rise in nesting activity this season, with 221 leatherback nests laid—an increase from 174 nests in 2023–2024. Of these, 152 nests were protected, representing 69% of the total, compared to 119 nests (68%) in the previous season. This progress is largely due to the extended monitoring period, which enabled more complete data collection and increased the number of recorded nests. While the previous season covered only four months (December–March), the 2024–2025 season was successfully extended to nearly six months (November–April).
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