PHANG-NGA, Nov 11 (TNA) — Marine park officials have found the third nest of leatherback sea turtle eggs in the southern province of Phang-nga.
Prarop Plaeng-ngan, chief of the Marine National Park Operation Center 2 in Phuket province, said Somyos Saowiang, a resident in Ban Tha Noon village of Khok Kloy sub-district in Takua Thung district of Phang-nga spotted a leatherback sea turtle laying eggs while he was patrolling Bang Khwan beach at about 1am.
The third nest on the beach in this nesting season was about 10 meters from a previous nest found on Oct 1 and about 14 meters from the sea. Traces at the new nest showed that the mother turtle measured 105 centimeters in carapace width and 190 centimeters from the left flipper to the right one.
Mr Prarop said the nesting season of leatherback sea turtles started and more turtles were likely to lay eggs on the southern coast from Mai Khao beach in Phuket province to Phra Thong island in Khura Buri district of Phang-nga.
The coast was the last nesting area of leatherback sea turtles in Thailand. Park officials were waiting for mother turtles while seriously protecting the coast. Meanwhile, villagers were helpful by patrolling beaches for the safety of the animals and their eggs, Mr Prarop said. (TNA)
