Thai Navy Working To Save Sea Turtles

Sea turtles are endangered species under the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, in addition to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. In Thailand, sea turtle meat and eggs are considered a delicacy and sea turtles have therefore struggled to keep populations afloat there.

In order to insure the safety and survival of sea turtles in Thailand, the Thai navy has been protecting the turtles since 1992. The Thai navy’s Sea Turtle Conservation Center finds turtle egg nests and forms protective pens around each one. Once the turtles hatch, the babies are moved to a nearby facility.

The turtles are then scrubbed in order to prevent fungal infections, another leading cause of the sea turtle deaths. The turtles are kept until they are about six months old, or old enough to ensure survival at sea. Overall, the Thai navy ensures the safety of about 15,000 turtles a year.

Khram Island is the largest nesting site for sea turtles in Thailand and is where the majority of the sea turtles are collected. Five different types of sea turtles are often found nesting in Thailand, including the green turtle, hawksbill turtle, loggerhead turtle, leatherback turtle and the olive ridley turtle.

Deputy director of the center, Captain Aran Jiemyuu, stated: “Sea turtles in Thailand have not reached a critical endangered level, but that’s because of our efforts. At Khram Island, we found green turtles from 15 to 17 years old laying eggs. It shows that the turtles laying eggs here may be the turtles we nurtured and released to the sea.”

Captain Winai Klom-in stated: “Because humans destroy nature, natural conservation practices should begin with humans.” The Captain was alluding to the deaths of sea turtles for their meat and eggs in Thailand, which is actually illegal. Jail time and up to $1,160 in fines does not seem to dissuade many, however.