Phang Nga –
A rare leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), the largest species of sea turtle in the world, was discovered nesting on the shores of Lam Pi–Hat Thai Mueang National Park in Phang Nga . The event occurred this week, when the mother turtle came ashore near the park’s protection unit to lay her clutch.
According to Dr. Pinsak Suraswadi, Director-General of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), the nesting was reported by the Upper Andaman Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center. The turtle laid a total of 119 eggs, of which 99 were viable and 20 were infertile. To aid future monitoring, officials implanted a microchip (No. 900219002554394) and collected samples of mucus, blood, eggs, and sand for health and genetic studies.
Because the nest was located in an area at risk of flooding and predation, conservation teams, including DMCR staff, national park rangers, researchers from the Marine National Park Study and Research Center in Phuket, and citizen science volunteers, relocated the eggs to a safer site. A protective enclosure was built to maximize hatchling survival.
This effort aligns with the proactive conservation policy expressed by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin, who has called for integrated work across agencies to restore marine ecosystems and safeguard endangered species. Leatherback turtles are critically endangered, and each successful nesting contributes significantly to Thailand’s long-term marine biodiversity goals.
The discovery shows both the fragility and resilience of Thailand’s coastal ecosystems. As Dr. Suraswadi noted, “Every nest is a vital step toward reviving the leatherback population in our waters.”
