‘Big Mum’ was last recorded as laying eggs in the area on Dec 30.
The nest was found at the northern end of the beach at about 11:15pm Monday night (Jan 22).
The nest was the sixth turtle nest discovered in Khao Lampi-Hat Thai Mueang National Park during the current nesting season, and the 10th overall in the area, officers reported.
The turtle tracks in the sand showed that the turtle that laid the nest had a flipper span of 202cm. The tracks indicated that the shell was 130cm wide – consistent with the dimensions of the legendary ‘Big Mum’, officers noted.
The nest, 72cm deep, containing 135 eggs, of which 92 were deemed fertilised and 43 were deemed to be ‘hollow’.
As the nest was at risk of inundation by the sea, the eggs were carefully excavated and relocated to a secure and convenient site beyond the highest tide line in front of the tourist service centre.
The relocated eggs will be watched over by park officers and volunteers to allow them to hatch naturally. The eggs are expected to hatch around March 15-20.
The discovery of the nest followed the sad discovery of a large female leatherback turtle found dead washed ashore at Thai Mueang Beach within the national park.
The dead mother leatherback was found at 1:19pm Monday just a few kilometres south of where the nest was found that night.
The dead turtle was found by local resident Damrong Suwankayee, who reported the discovery to park officials.
The turtle was in a state of decomposition. A rope with a small float attached was found tangled around the neck and front flippers on both sides, which park officers believed caused the turtle’s death.
The dead turtle was reported to the Sireetarn Marine Endangered Animal Rescue Center, based at Cape Panwa on Phuket’s east coast. Marine biologists at the centre will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.