The hawksbills were all about one year old and had been reared by Siam Marine biologists. Foundation deputy-director Pornchai Juthamas said the team had implanted microchips into the creatures so they could monitor their migratory cycles and when they came back to beaches in the locality to lay their eggs.
According to the Nation, pupils and teachers from Bang Saphan schools actually released the turtles from the main beach at Koh Thalu. Marine researchers say hawksbill turtles are less common in the Gulf of Thailand than green turtles. On the opposite side of the southern Thai peninsula, the Andaman Sea has far greater numbers of hawksbills.
The 12GO ASIA travel team notes that Koh Thalu is one of the most popular tourism destinations for people holidaying in Bang Saphan, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Hua Hin and Cha Am. The sea around the island is clear and eminently suited to swimming, snorkelling and diving.
Marine specialists mass release turtles from Koh Thalu Island
News in Asia
Late last week, the Siam Marine Rehabilitation Foundation supervised the mass release of a bale of turtles into the Gulf of Thailand. The release took place at Koh Thalu Island and saw 65 hawksbill turtles dispatched into their natural environment.