Turtle found slaughtered at Mai Khao

MAIKHAO: A young female sea turtle weighing about 85 kilograms was found dead on Mai Khao beach last Sunday. Cuts and wounds around the sea turtle’s neck and legs were found – possibly made by fishing hooks. There was also a large gash in its stomach; there were no eggs. The Phuket Environment Protection Association believes that the sea turtle was killed on Saturday night because blood stains around its corpse were still fresh. “This was not the first time,” an expert from the association said. “It usually happens during the turtles’ hatching season.” It is thought the turtle was probably caught as it was swimming toward shore and then killed for its eggs. Sea turtles are protected by Thai law. It is illegal to possess or sell turtle shells or eggs. This was the first female turtle found killed this year. Last year the death toll was 14. So far this season nine turtles have come to lay a total of about 1,000 eggs on Mai Khao beach. Two nests have hatched and 76 baby turtles were released to the sea last Thursday.