Talang Islands 25 July 2025

Why Talang Satang National Park?  

Talang Satang National Park is one of the most difficult parks to walk into, not because of its distance, but because of the restriction it has on the stretch of beach the public is allowed to access. The Talang Besar and the Talang Kecil, both serve as important islands for Turtle landing and nesting. Of the 14 national parks officially published by the Sarawak Forestry, this is probably the place where public find it most difficut to reach. 

Yet, when there is a will, there is a way. We will our way to Talang Kecil and Talang Besar through collaboration with the Forestry corporation, with a mission to save the turtles, in a way we are best at - surveillance. 

The trip highlights 

The 7am drive to Sematan was different this time. 

The last drive we had last year, we discussed if our clients are serious with giving us a contract, or are just taking us for a free ride, getting our free consultation, design, detailed specification and quotations yet would never award us the job. (And yes, the lady client actually took us for a free ride, after getting all our detailed design,  drawings, and specification, she ditched us without guilt). 

The drive from Kuching to Sematan this time around was filled with much anticipations and only positive vibes.  We talked about how many turtles we will meet, how we would install the camera, and if any of us would dive into the sea to explore beyond the beach. 

The 2 hours drive to sematan just didn't feel like 2 hours. 

After a short wait at the jetty, 4 of us from office, accompanied by 3 gentlemen from SFC, took a boat to Talang Kecil. The journey was pleasant. I must say, the view as we approached the island made all the preparatory effort worthty.  

And yes, after 1 year plus of effort, follow up and discussion, finally we are heading to Talang Islands. 

Heading to Talang Island off course helped to tick the check box, bringing me closer towards completing my visit to all the published national parks in Sarawak. Yet, the tick is not what i treasured. The experience on the islands were surreal. Comparing to those experience of swimming with turtles in Sipadan, the experience I had this time was very educational and eyes opening. I learned how many turtles actually landed each night, I saw all the actions of little baby turtles. On the 2 islands, I witnessed baby turtles crawing out from the sand, I saw the little creatures flexing their flaps muscle while they were still breathing the fresh air from the containers that temporarily keep them before they are released back to the ocean. 

Now, I can actually tell with confidence.

"Do you know that as many as 60 turtles land on Talang Besar one night? "

"Do you know that the little baby turtle could survice for few days without food and drink after hatching from the eggs? "

"Do you know that some time there were so many turtles landing on the island, that the rangers have to quickly transfer the eggs from the buried sites, before they get damaged by another turtle that would nest on the same site? "

"Sometimes, you heard the term In-Situ. What it means is some turtle nests were being missed out, and after a while, the baby turtles would just hatch from the eggs, crawl out and naturally head towards the ocean, as compared to other eggs that are collected and safely guarded within the fenced area by the rangers". 

This trip was not just about walking the beach with 1 very experienced manager and two young ladies from my office. This trip carries a mission way bigger than the "not so romantic" beach walk at 12pm.

We were there with a mission to enable SFC performing surveillance on the treasured creatures - the turtles. And we did it.

After the visits to Talang Kecil and Talang Besar, we left to Sematan at around 1pm. 

My transports, accommodation, and F&B 

• Pan-Borneo Highway, all the way from Kuching to Sematan, using my trusted QS1888T. 
• Accommodation: We made it there day trip.
• Boat: Courtesy of SFC

My 3 Plus and 2 Minus:-

3 things I like about this trip: 

• The people, the SFC guys who have been very supportive 
• The white sandy beach (even better than Perhentian Kecil)
• The fact that there are too many turtles landing on the island, that some actually nested and left without the rangers detected them

 2 thing I would do differently if I can turn back the clock:  

• I would bring a camp there, overnight and enjoy the sunset view and the night walk while waiting for turtles to land
• Apply for longer leave from my boss, and stay on the island longer.. But not too long until i would call a WILSON ball "Wilson, where have you been?"

A surprise learning from the trip 

50 - 60 turtles land to nest in a single night. That number really shocked me, positively. 

I chose to forget about the bad experience with the client who runs a project in Sematan. Now, I would remember Sematan for a good reason, where the hope of seeing more turtles grows. SFC has really done a great job in the conservation, and I hope I can do my part to contribute. 

"Remember, we always have a choice"