From cooking pot to conservation, a turtle’s tale

A royal turtle once rescued from villagers who wanted to eat it was one of two handed over to a conservation centre yesterday. The turtles had been raised by former Koh Kong provincial Fisheries Administration’s official Nay Ol, 60, for 17 years.

Tears welled up in his eyes when he spoke about his turtles during the inauguration of the Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Centre in Mondol Seima district. One turtle weighed more than 30 kilos and was more than 50 years old. It was rescued in 2000 from villagers who were about to kill and cook it.

Mr Ol said his wife could not be there because she would cry if she saw the turtles being given away. He joined the turtle conservation project in 2000 and went that year to Sre Ambel to educate people about royal turtles.

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