Turtles Around The Islands ?

[samuijimmy]

I came across this today on the south end of Maehaad Beach (Koh Phengan) .... I'd never heard of turtles around the islands .... just wondering if divers or anyone has seen them???

I showed these parts to the one of the resort owner's and he'd never seen, then I asked one of the Diving companies if they had seen turtles whilst diving, the guy I spoke too, said that he'd only heard reports of two oddly enough in the area I found these parts of the shell.... so sadly their may only now be one... I am not sure if the white pieces came from a turtle but sure the "shell parts" did... I'd guess it was quite large?

Funny enough, some kids had made a sand turtle in another area of the beach ....

Sadly too, the coral in that area of KP is not getting better, declining quickly ..... but there are still a few good spots, but getting harder to find.... Some fairly good spots closer to Ko Ma.

[mitmig]

Saw a couple dead ones during the years (the one on the photo was in Augustus 2009). The last dead one was washed up on the beach some months ago. During all these years I saw only one swimming in the sea. And until now we've had about 3 dead dolphins washed ashore Edit: I'm talking about Koh Samui, west coast

Edited March 31, 2012 by mitmig

[limbos]

There used to be plenty of turtles around the three main Gulf island, think about what Koh Tao means (Turtle island in case you don't know).

30 years ago Samui used to have deer, turtles, turtles laying their eggs on Samui beaches, you name it, All but disappeared.

The last time I saw a turtle here whilst diving is a few years ago, that was near Koh Phangan, maybe 7 or 8 years ago, possibly more.

[Tropicalevo]

A friend who was diving off Koh Tao last week saw a large turtle. Doesn't happen often though.

[samuijimmy]

I did actually know that KT was referred to as "Turtle Island" but always thought it was to do with it's shape....

The one other thing did notice yesterday, that there was a jet ski running around Mae Haad Bay... that was a first.... Not good for turtles or people snorkeling.... or anything really!

The few times, I've been to the Anthong Marine Park, I've never seen turtles either, one would hope there still some turtles managing to survive.... I know there are a number of restricted areas that even the daily tour boats are not supposed to go... and even "closed season" for fishing boats ... starts in November if I remember. I suppose depending on type of Turtle, that they are out to sea much of the time, and come back to lay their eggs .... which would explain why they are not always present... ?

At the dive shop, where I asked about turtles, they had a sign up saying there were some whales in some area, ( I forget the type of whale & where, now) .... another species not seen much of around here, one does occasionally see Dolphins...

Let's just hope the deadly Jelly Fish stay away....

[limbos]

Likely they were sperm whales.

Tao means turtle in the Thai language. There were plenty of turtles some 20 years ago, unfortunately one of the side effects of busy beaches is that turtles move elsewhere.

[insertmembernamehere]

You can buy turtles in many of the wet markets around the island. Yummy, but small.

[CARLIN]

You can buy turtles in many of the wet markets around the island. Yummy, but small.

Do you eat them with your Shark Fin soup?

and Sperm

Whale

.

[insertmembernamehere]

My point was that there are turtles on the island that are not necessarily salt water dwellers. Also, is it not possible that the shells the OP found were from someone's dinner? BBQ on the beach or a fishing boat?

[Paangjang]

About 3 months ago i was on my Kayak between Samui and Koh Taen when a turtle surfaced about 5 meters from my Kayak! Have to admit it was a little bit creepy as it was so calm and peaceful out there, and then suddenly this thing pops up right next to me. Lovely to see them though.

Guess he was just coming up for some air, used to see this happening quite often when diving around Phi Phi.

I have seen one more recently though, there is a restaurant right opposite the stadium in Chaweng. A small thai style restaurant. They have a big TV on the wall and then just to the right of that a big turtle shell in a frame. Maybe thats one of the reasons there isn't so many left around here anymore