Phuket woke up to a delightful surprise on December 18 when a nest of a leatherback turtle was discovered at Tha Sai Beach in the Na Toei area of Thai Mueang District, Phang Nga, situated north of Phuket. The find, reported by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), marks another significant milestone in the conservation efforts for this endangered species.
A local, Bandit Leebamrung, from the nearby town of Baan Bo Dan, was the first to spot the nest. He promptly notified the Marine Resources Conservation Division and the Mangrove Forest Resource Conservation Centre, who swiftly arrived at the scene to verify the find.
Upon their arrival, the officers identified clear turtle tracks on the sandy beach. The turtle, which was no longer at the site, was estimated to have an impressive shell width of 56 centimetres and a flipper span of 170…
