On World Turtle Day 2025 (May 23), Six Senses Con Dao reaffirms its unwavering commitment to sea turtle conservation through dedicated protection, scientific care, community engagement, and rescue efforts. From safeguarding rare hatchlings at the “Let’s Get Cracking” Incubation Center to timely marine rescues, the resort stands as a beacon of hope ensuring these majestic creatures continue to thrive along Vietnam’s pristine shores.
Sustainability is more than a philosophy at Six Senses Con Dao—it is the very heartbeat that drives every action, initiative, and moment shared with nature. Here, amidst the untouched beauty of Con Dao’s pristine shores, a profound commitment thrives: to protect, preserve, and celebrate the delicate rhythms of marine life for generations yet to come.
On this World Turtle Day 2025, Six Senses Con Dao shines a spotlight on its flagship conservation effort — the “Let’s Get Cracking” Incubation Center. Since opening its doors in 2018 in collaboration with Con Dao National Park, this sanctuary has become a home for endangered green sea turtles. Over the years, the center has nurtured and safely released 29,859 hatchlings into the ocean, boasting an exceptional 82% hatch success rate—a testament to the unwavering dedication of the resort’s conservation team.
Each year, from early March to October, the quiet, untouched 1.24-mile beach at Six Senses Con Dao transforms into a sacred nursery. Mother turtles return faithfully, drawn by the safety and calm this protected sanctuary provides, to lay their eggs. But the journey from egg to ocean is full of dangers. Natural predators, environmental threats, and human activities put the fragile eggs and tiny hatchlings at risk. That’s where the incubation center steps in – protecting these vulnerable lives during their most critical stages, carefully monitoring conditions to help more hatchlings survive and make it safely into the wild.
On the path of sea turtle conservation, each remarkable moment serves as a gentle reminder of nature’s delicate beauty—and humanity’s responsibility to protect it. At Six Senses Con Dao, this journey has been marked by memorable milestones, none more extraordinary than the birth of Blanche on October 20, 2023.
Blanche is a Chelonia mydas, commonly known as a green sea turtle, born with leucism—a rare genetic condition causing significantly reduced melanin pigment in skin and shell. Melanin is the pigment responsible for the color of skin, hair, and eyes in animals and humans. Leucistic sea turtle hatchlings are estimated to occur at about one in hundreds of thousands of eggs laid.
This unique coloration is a striking example of hypopigmentation, making Blanche a powerful symbol of both the fragile beauty and enduring resilience of marine life. Since birth, Blanche has inspired deeper awareness and a renewed commitment to protecting these vulnerable creatures.
Building on the momentum of its conservation efforts, on December 15, 2024, a protected olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), named after the olive-green color of their heart-shaped shells, laid an impressive clutch of 98 eggs on the shores of Six Senses Con Dao. Classified as threatened on the IUCN Red List and among the five critically endangered sea turtle species listed in Vietnam’s Red Data Book, this extraordinary event underscores the vital role of the incubation center and the resort’s ongoing dedication to protecting these vulnerable creatures and ensuring their survival.
The resort’s commitment extends beyond incubation to active marine rescue. On May 7, 2025, two sea turtles—a hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and a green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas)—were discovered entangled in abandoned fishing nets near the shoreline. Thanks to the swift and coordinated efforts of the Six Senses Con Dao team and local National Park authorities, both turtles were safely freed and released back into their ocean home. This rescue highlights the ongoing threats marine turtles face and underscores the critical importance of vigilance and prompt action in their protection.
Education and guest engagement remain key pillars of the resort’s conservation approach. Through Turtle Talks, interactive sessions led by a knowledgeable sustainability team, guests gain a deeper understanding of sea turtle biology, behavior, and the complex conservation challenges these ancient mariners face. From May to December, hatchlings regularly emerge on the resort’s private beach, offering guests a rare opportunity to witness nature at its most instinctive. Watching these tiny creatures begin their first journey to the sea during release events is a profound and unforgettable experience—one that bridges the gap between human appreciation and natural wonder.
Every hatchling represents more than just a life saved—it’s a sign of hope for an entire species,” says Erkaiym Tabyldieva, Sustainability Manager at Six Senses Con Dao. “Each egg protected, each turtle released, is a step toward restoring balance in our oceans. But just as importantly, it’s an opportunity to inspire. Through these experiences, we’re not only safeguarding marine life—we’re inviting our guests to become part of the story, to reconnect with nature, and to recognize the role each of us plays in protecting the planet we all share.”
This World Turtle Day, Six Senses Con Dao reaffirms its dedication not only to sea turtle conservation but to nurturing a lasting relationship between humanity and nature. Every hatchling released, every rescued turtle freed, and every educational moment shared echoes the resort’s commitment to safeguarding a legacy of life, hope, and renewal. Through ongoing collaboration, passionate care, and unwavering stewardship, the resort continues to champion a future where sea turtles and humans thrive together in harmony.
