Local resident Winai Trakankit alerted officials from the Upper Andaman Sea and Coastal Resources Research Center of the two turtles rescued on Thursday (June 6).
Two sea turtles had been found entangled in marine debris, specifically discarded fishing nets, in front of Mai Khao Palm Beach Resort Hotel, Mr Winai said.
DMCR officials arrived at the scene and provided immediate assistance. One of the turtles, identified as a hawksbill turtle, was found to be in good health with no visible injuries. The team promptly released this turtle back into the sea.
The second hawksbill turtle, however, was in a weakened state. DMCR officials carefully extracted the turtle from the debris and conducted an on-site physical examination.
The juvenile hawksbill turtle, with a shell 31.5cm wide and 35cm long, and weighing approximately 3.2kg, showed signs of physical weakness but had a generally good body condition, reported as “BCS ⅗”.
The turtle was transported to the Sireetarn Marine Endangered Animals Rescue Centre in Phuket at Cape Panwa for further medical evaluation and rehabilitation.
Marine biologists at the centre are conducting detailed health assessments and initiating the necessary treatments to restore the turtle’s health. Once fully recovered, the turtle will be released back into its natural habitat, the officers confirmed.