Rare hawksbill sea turtle eggs found on island off Prachuap Khiri Khan
Officials of Ao Siam National Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan province on Saturday said that they had found a hole on the beach in Thalu Island located about 7km off the east coast with traces of a hawksbill sea turtle that had dug it up to lay eggs.
“Inside the hole 20cm in diameter, 43cm deep, and 18 metres from the seawater, there are 148 hawksbill sea turtle eggs,” said Phichai Watcharawongphaiboon, chief of Region 3 Wildlife Conservation Office.
“There is no sign of the mother turtle nearby except for impressions in the sand which indicate that she had paddles about 75cm wide.”
Phichai added that officials have taken the eggs to the sea turtle nursery station where they would be guarded and monitored 24/7 by national park staff in Bangsabhan Noi district.
Hawksbill sea turtles are rare and are protected under the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act. They are also listed in Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
The 1,500 rai (240 hectares) Thalu Island is one of the few places in Thailand that has evidence of hawksbill sea turtles coming up to lay eggs.
