Caught on tape: Turtle baby boom in Phang Nga
A video posted on Facebook on Wednesday by prominent marine biologist Thon Thamrongnawasawat captures the moment 77 tiny green turtle hatchlings clambered out of their nest in the sands of the Similan Islands in Phang Nga the day before.
The clip continues on Wednesday morning as they make their way to the sea.
Thon said there were 108 eggs laid on March 1 in the beach on Koh Miang in Mu Koh Similan Marine National Park. It took them 55 days to hatch.
Park officials made sure the baby turtles would be safe from predators such as ghost crabs and seabirds and set the hatchlings free on their way to the sea.
They watched the little turtles make good progress on their first journey, moving as quickly as they could towards the waves and swimming off into the deep sea.
Thon said five sea turtle nests had been found in the park this year – a good sign for turtle conservation in Thailand – and this batch was the first to hatch.
“I would like to thank all of the park officials who take a good care of these turtles,” he said. “I wish all the little turtles good fortune and hope they survive life in the sea. And I hope to meet them again in 20 years when they return to the same beach to produce a new generation of their species.”