After a decade, olive ridley returns to Karon
Officials from the Andaman Sea and Coastal Resources Research and Development Center have expressed their delight at the news of an olive ridley sea turtle laying eggs at Karon Beach for the first time in over a decade.
The discovery of the turtle and her nest of eggs was made around 6am last Saturday (Jan 27) by lifeguard Udom Phatthakor, who was conducting his daily inspection of the local beach area and laying down safety flags in the sand in front of the Centara Hotel Grand Resort and Spa.
While going about his business, Mr Udom came across the mother turtle busy burying her eggs in the sand and swiftly alerted local village chief Arunsri Klanma.
Ms Arunsri and her colleague, assistant village headperson Kaewta Thanomsin, then alerted officials at the Research and Development Center, who duly sent an inspection team to the site.
On arriving and inspecting the nest, officials confirmed the eggs had been laid at a depth of approximately 30cm, meaning they were therefore at risk of being flooded by the tide.
The decision was therefore made to relocate the eggs to a safer spot at the Sireetarn Marine Endangered Animal Rescue Center at Ao Makham, where they will be nursed carefully.
There were a total of 126 eggs, center officials confirmed, adding that olive ridley sea turtles typically take between 45-50 days to hatch. They also confirmed there was a chance the mother turtle may return to the site to lay yet more eggs and they were consequently maintaining surveillance at the site.
Officials confirmed this was the first time in over a decade that such a discovery had been made at the Karon location, meaning extra reason for joy and celebration.
It is also the fourth instance of a turtle laying eggs locally this year after discoveries in Khao Lampi-Hat Thai Mueang National Park in Thai Muang, Phang Nga, north of Phuket on Jan 2, a further discovery in Phang Nga on Jan 6, and a third case at the same spot in Khao Lampi-Hat Thai Mueang National Park on Jan 22.