Fighting chance given at Laguna Phuket’s 22nd sea turtle release

On Saturday 3 April, 50 sea turtles were released into the sunset waters of the Andaman Sea to begin their lifetime journey in the ocean at Laguna Phuket’s 22nd annual sea turtle release, at Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC). 
 

Hundreds of donors and animal philanthropists joined an afternoon of educational sea turtle conservation activities that includes Sea Turtle Nursery Pond Handover Ceremony.
 

The beach ceremony was part of Laguna Phuket’s on-going environmental partnership with Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC) to help the plight of endangered sea turtles. Instructions were given to all donors by PMBC biologists who were in attendance to closely supervise the release.
 

Laguna Phuket has funded a total of 609,726 Baht construction cost for Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC)’s new nursery ponds – part of PMBC’s ongoing sea turtle conservation programmes in partnership with the Royal Thai Navy. 
 

Providing temporary shelter to juvenile, injured and disabled sea turtles before returning to sea, PMBC’s nursery ponds are also permanent home – and fighting chance – to many turtles that lost their ability to survive in nature and must be raised in captivity.  
 

“To date, 2,020 sea turtles have been released by Laguna Phuket and more than 6.8 million Baht raised since 1994,” said Mr. Ravi Chandran, Managing Director of Laguna Phuket. 
 

“It is also important that more than 4,000 people have participated in our initiative over the course of two decades as our goal is not only to raise funds but to also raise the awareness. We hope that this experience will encourage the young generations to be lifelong advocates of wildlife conservation and environmental preservation.” he concluded.

   

Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) can live for up to 60 years and spend their lives roaming the world’s oceans. Only the females ever come ashore again to nest.