The green turtle hatchling that clambered through its shell on Racha Island early last Friday morning is the only turtle to hatch from the nest of 87 eggs, Phuket marine officials confirmed today.
The hatchling, which officials have yet to name, was the first known turtle to hatch on Koh Racha, south of Phuket, in 10 years, raising hopes of a return of turtles to Phuket and the surrounding islands.
However, none of the remaining eggs brought life to the embryos within, Suchart Rattanareangsri, Director of Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) Phuket branch’s Conservation Department said today.
“Two other eggs looked like they were going to produce hatchlings, but they failed,” he said.
Suchart suspects that moving the eggs to a safer place on Koh Racha after the nest was found on July 14 could have played a dramatic part in the viability of the nest in producing hatchlings.
“However, we could not leave the nest where it was as it was too close to a resort and could have easily been disturbed by tourists,” he explained, noting that the experience had left him deeply saddened.
“We want to know for sure what caused the eggs to fail to hatch, and so they have been taken to the Phuket Marine Biological Centre, where experts are examining them in the hope of avoiding future disasters like this,” Suchart added.
Story: The Phuket News
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