Maimed sea turtle treated in Phuket

PHUKET: A maimed female sea turtle was taken to the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) after it was washed ashore on an island off Ranong yesterday morning.

The turtle, still too young to have laid her first eggs, was suffering from infections and exhaustion, Patcharaporn Kaewmong, a veterinarian at the PMBC explained.

“We believe that the turtle lost its limbs when it was caught in a fishing net or sea rubbish – like so many turtles we are taking care of,” Rachawadee Jantra of the (PMBC) told the Phuket Gazette. “Injuries like this really can be from anything that gets fastened around their flippers and prevents them from swimming.

“If they are unable to make it to the surface to breathe, they will do anything to free themselves… sometimes this leads to them losing a limb.”

The PMBC is currently treating 14 sea turtles that include olive ridley, hawksbill and green sea turtles.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong