Hawksbill sea turtle

Photo: Kevin Bryant · CC BY-NC-SA

Hawksbill turtles are seen less frequently than greens at Hilutungan but appear regularly, using their narrow pointed beaks to extract sponges from crevices in the reef framework. They are critical agents of reef health — removing sponges that would otherwise outcompete slow-growing corals. Their beautifully patterned shells made them the primary target of the historical tortoiseshell trade; Critically Endangered globally. Each hawksbill sighting at Hilutungan is a marker of the sanctuary's long-term conservation effectiveness.