Sweet Sendoff: Sea turtle Piggy Bank gets Buddhist ceremony to let her rest in peace

The veterinarian that cared for Piggy Bank, Dr. Nantarika Chansue, shared the photos from the Wednesday merit-making ceremony.  Photo: Dr. Nantarika Chansue/ Facebook
The veterinarian that cared for Piggy Bank, Dr. Nantarika Chansue, shared the photos from the Wednesday merit-making ceremony. Photo: Dr. Nantarika Chansue/ Facebook

Ormsin, or Piggy Bank, the sea turtle that became famous after being rescued from a Chonburi pond where she had swallowed 915 coins that people had thrown in her pond for luck, passed away from complications related to surgery that removed the coins from her belly in March.

On Wednesday, she was the beneficiary of a traditional Buddhist merit-making ceremony at Chulalongkorn University where her taxidermied remains were honored and prayers chanted for her. Buddhists believe that this ceremony will allow her spirit to be at peace and eventually reincarnate.

The veterinarian that cared for Piggy Bank, Dr. Nantarika Chansue, shared the photos on her Facebook page along with this message (translated from Thai):

“The monks from Pathum Wanaram temple pray for Piggy Bank the turtle. We brought the remains of Piggy Bank, which have been preserved, to accept merit from the beginning to the end of the ceremony,” she wrote.

“Everyone prays for the spirit of Piggy Bank to find a better place and reincarnate to a better life,” she added.



Reader Interactions

Leave A Reply


BECOME A COCO+ MEMBER

Support local news and join a community of like-minded
“Coconauts” across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

Join Now
Coconuts TV
Our latest and greatest original videos
Subscribe on