Waves Continue To Sweep Injured Turtles Onto Phuket

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Waves continue to sweep injured turtles onto Phuket

Phuket Gazette

Staff at Phuket Marine Biological Center care for another turtle injured by fishing nets. Photo: Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation

The turtle recovered yesterday, like many before it, had a flipper amputated, most likely by a discarded fishing net. Photo: Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation

PHUKET: -- Officers at the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) recovered a juvenile Olive Ridley sea turtle suffering from lacerations, and its front left flipper amputated entirely, from Mai Khao Beach yesterday.

“We received a report from The Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation that the turtle had washed ashore in front of Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa – Marriott at Mai Khao Beach,” Dr Patcharaporn Gaewmong, a veterinarian for the Endangered Species Unit (ESU) at PMBC, told the Gazette

“We retrieved the turtle and brought it back to our center for treatment. Staff here cleaned its wounds and started it on an antibiotic regime. We will continue to monitoring its health,” she said.

An examination by ESU staff, revealed that the turtle had cuts to its front left flipper, which Dr Patcharaporn thinks was probably as a result the young turtle fighting to free itself from discarded fishing net.

“Some 30 turtles have been found washed ashore since June. Most of those had cuts to their flippers from fishing nets,” she said.

“We are trying our best to save them.” she added.

Those interested in making a difference by cleaning the reefs of Phuket and the surrounding islands of rubbish and discarded fishing nets are encouraged to join Go Eco Phuket, the Phuket Gazette and hundreds of individuals in what is expected to be the world’s biggest coral reef cleanup this Sunday.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle18020.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-09-28

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Turtles, dolphin drift ashore in South Thailand

PHUKET, Sept 28 – Six sea turtles and a baby dolphin were found afloat along the shorelines of Phuket and adjacent Phang-nga province in the last few days, according to marine officials.

Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong, chief of the Endangered Species Unit at the Phuket Marine Biological Center said three Ridley Sea Turtles were carried adrift by waves to Karon Beach. The injured turtles, bruised by fishing nets, were immediately sent for rehabilitation. All were female and each shell was measured at 50-60 cm.

Marine officials found three more sea turtles, all female, floating near three different shore areas in Phang-nga. All of them had been squeezed by fishing nets and suffered for at least a month.

Meanwhile, a baby dolphin, measuring at 100-120 cm, was found adrift in the Andaman Sea.

Marine life officers said the dolphin, about one year old and weighing 20 kg, could have been battered by strong waves.

In nearby Trang province, a humpback dolphin was found dead in the Andaman Sea early this week, the fifth death recorded among the species so far this year.

Many sea turtles and dolphins are killed or injured during the monsoon season. Fishing equipment such as nets are also a danger to them.

The Trang Dolphin Conservation Club earlier said a latest survey in the Trang sea found at least 100 dolphins. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-09-28

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Carnage to Phuket's marine life continues

Phuket Gazette

Missing a front flipper and suffering an infected shell, this Olive Ridley is at least safe for the moment. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

Suffering an internal infection, this young Spinner dolphin is also being cared for by PMBC staff. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: In just one day, half a dozen Olive Ridley sea turtles were rescued in Phuket, all suffering lacerations caused by fishing nets, and a young dolphin was stranded on Mai Khao Beach.

Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong, head of the Endangered Species Unit (ESU) at the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC), revealed yesterday that ESU officers received a report from lifeguards at Karon Beach that three adult turtles had washed ashore.

Later, the center received another report telling them that three more turtles had washed ashore in separate locations along the coastline from Mai Khao to Phang Nga.

Of the three rescued at Karon Beach, Dr Kongkiat said, “They were all female Olive Ridley sea turtles, their shells measuring about 50-60 centimeters long.

“We brought them back to the center for examination and treatment as they were all suffering from cuts to their flippers.”

In addition to damaged flippers, examinations revealed that their shells were in poor condition, exhibiting bacterial or fungal growth. From that, ESU staff assessed that the three turtles were caught in fishing nets for about a month.

Dr Kongkiat’s team also responded to the three turtles reported washed ashore in the north of Phuket.

“We received a report from villagers that one sea turtle washed up on Tah Chat Chai Beach in Mai Khao. A second and third turtle were reported ashore in Phang Nga province. All three were females and had also been ensnared by finishing nets for about a month,” Dr Kongkiat said.

“They are all undergoing treatment at the center,” he added.

According to Dr Kongkiat, over the past five decades the number of Olive Ridley turtles laying eggs along the western beaches of Phuket and Phang Nga had dropped from somewhere between 500 to 1,000 to only about 10 to 30.

PMBC Officers believe that having turtles washing ashore in numbers is a good sign that many more turtles are out at sea trying to get to the beaches in order to lay their eggs.

“I hope a lot more Olive Ridley sea turtles can avoid the fishing nets and other dangers and make it to the beaches safely to lay their eggs,” he added.

Notwithstanding the six turtles they had to deal with yesterday, ESU staff also recovered a young female dolphin that had beached in Mai Khao.

Identified as a Spinner dolphin, Dr Kongkiat estimated that the marine animal is around one year old, a meter in length and weighing about 20 kilograms.

“The dolphin is still able to swim unaided but her balance is not very good. We believe she has an internal infection,” he said.

Two weeks earlier, two dead dolphins washed up on Mai Khao Beach, said Dr Kongkiat.

“Spinner dolphins in the Andaman Sea usually live in schools of about 20 to 100. Sometimes they are found living with other species of dolphins,” Dr Kongkiat explained.

Asked about the cause of dolphin strandings, Dr Kongkiat replied that the monsoon season, which brought with it rough seas and strong waves, was most likely the cause.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...nues-18029.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-09-28

[annabel]

Is there any hope for any wild life anywhere in the world right now ...? Why are humans so oblivious and uncarring and destructive...? These ocean beauties are not dying because of what Dr Kongkiat says in reference to the Dolphin which was also beached ..."The monsoon season, which brought with it rough seas and strong waves, was most likely the cause."...............This is rubbish !! It all has to do with the fishing nets that are dumped there along with all the other garbage being dumped into the oceans and the more and more polluted waters from human waste ... A very sad future we are facing !!

[annabel]

Is there any hope for any wild life anywhere in the world right now ...? Why are humans so oblivious and uncarring and destructive...? These ocean beauties are not dying because of what Dr Kongkiat says in reference to the Dolphin which was also beached ..."The monsoon season, which brought with it rough seas and strong waves, was most likely the cause."...............This is rubbish !! It all has to do with the fishing nets that are dumped there along with all the other garbage being dumped into the oceans and the more and more polluted waters from human waste ... A very sad future we are facing !!

It's amazing how some subjects ( murders by kin or just random mafias, government related midget and predictable issues, land encroaching, scams such as Jet Skis and what not ... taxis , tuk-tuks etc... ) whatever get up to 20 pages of comments and concerns and professional statistics and opinions from all the TV members.... BUT.. the mimute an issue concerns any wild life issues / atrocities or related abuses all of TV members are totally numb!! ... Must be that all TV members have become as Pink Floyd would say :" Totally NUMB!"

[NomadJoe]

Your right. But what can be said? Of course we know monsoon season is not amputating turtle flippers and giving dolphins viral infections. What a silly notion. I think he meant that that is why we are seeing them wash ashore. Normally they would have died at sea.

Barring a massive education and overhaul of the fishing and industrial complexes, not much will change environmentally. Western countries can't even get that right. The US republican candidate has openly mocked Obamas environmental efforts, partially blaming them for the slow recovery from the environmental and fiscal devistation that was the Bush legacy. In a developing or third world country, it's a herculean task. We do what we can.

On the bright side, tomorrow a world record will be set right here in Phuket when an estimated 400+ divers and 2000+ non-divers, many local school children, will be cleaning beaches and reefs in and around Phuket. It was reported today that during the first stage of the clean-up, over 2 tons of discarded fishing nets, abandoned fishing cages, and other debris was lifted from around Raya Noi. So much that the Royal Thai Navy, who are supporting the event orgaizied by most of the local dive shops, had to bring in an extra ship just to carry it all away. Wait till you see the pictures tomorrow.

And one of the biggest names in Thai music has confirmed for the after party at KanEang 2.

Edited September 29, 2012 by NomadJoe

[Jimjim]

Actually Pink Floyd said "comfortably numb," which describes it perfectly.

[annabel]

Your right. But what can be said? Of course we know monsoon season is not amputating turtle flippers and giving dolphins viral infections. What a silly notion. I think he meant that that is why we are seeing them wash ashore. Normally they would have died at sea.

Barring a massive education and overhaul of the fishing and industrial complexes, not much will change environmentally. Western countries can't even get that right. The US republican candidate has openly mocked Obamas environmental efforts, partially blaming them for the slow recovery from the environmental and fiscal devistation that was the Bush legacy. In a developing or third world country, it's a herculean task. We do what we can.

On the bright side, tomorrow a world record will be set right here in Phuket when an estimated 400+ divers and 2000+ non-divers, many local school children, will be cleaning beaches and reefs in and around Phuket. It was reported today that during the first stage of the clean-up, over 2 tons of discarded fishing nets, abandoned fishing cages, and other debris was lifted from around Raya Noi. So much that the Royal Thai Navy, who are supporting the event orgaizied by most of the local dive shops, had to bring in an extra ship just to carry it all away. Wait till you see the pictures tomorrow.

And one of the biggest names in Thai music has confirmed for the after party at KanEang 2.

What you are saying is correct and governments all over the world MUST be pressured to start cleaning up their own back yards and setting tough laws for all these big industries who carelessly pollute the earth, and yes it is a mammoth of a task but has to somehow get started before it is too late. Phuket is setting a good example and let's hope this spreads like wild fire and that it starts happening everywhere in Thailand and in the world. They should make sure this gets international coverage... I think this is really great !

[grumpyoldman]

Is there any hope for any wild life anywhere in the world right now ...? Why are humans so oblivious and uncarring and destructive...? These ocean beauties are not dying because of what Dr Kongkiat says in reference to the Dolphin which was also beached ..."The monsoon season, which brought with it rough seas and strong waves, was most likely the cause."...............This is rubbish !! It all has to do with the fishing nets that are dumped there along with all the other garbage being dumped into the oceans and the more and more polluted waters from human waste ... A very sad future we are facing !!

BUT.. the mimute an issue concerns any wild life issues / atrocities or related abuses all of TV members are totally numb!! ... Must be that all TV members have become as Pink Floyd would say :" Totally NUMB!"

[madmitch]

Is there any hope for any wild life anywhere in the world right now ...? Why are humans so oblivious and uncarring and destructive...? These ocean beauties are not dying because of what Dr Kongkiat says in reference to the Dolphin which was also beached ..."The monsoon season, which brought with it rough seas and strong waves, was most likely the cause."...............This is rubbish !! It all has to do with the fishing nets that are dumped there along with all the other garbage being dumped into the oceans and the more and more polluted waters from human waste ... A very sad future we are facing !!

It's amazing how some subjects ( murders by kin or just random mafias, government related midget and predictable issues, land encroaching, scams such as Jet Skis and what not ... taxis , tuk-tuks etc... ) whatever get up to 20 pages of comments and concerns and professional statistics and opinions from all the TV members.... BUT.. the mimute an issue concerns any wild life issues / atrocities or related abuses all of TV members are totally numb!! ... Must be that all TV members have become as Pink Floyd would say :" Totally NUMB!"

I don't think that Thaivisa members are unconcerned about environmental issues and as NomadJoe has stated, there's a big operation going on today. If I were a diver I would join.in but as I'm not I offer my thanks to all those involved.

It is a matter of educating locals and it has to start at a young age. When a child watches his parents throw rubbish out of the car window that child will just copy. On Friday I drove past a pickup on the road from the Honda garage where about four people were unloading trash, including a whole load of polystyrene, and just dumping it on the side of the road.

Littering is a major problem in Thai society and fishermen are no different to anyone else except that the ocean is their rubbish dump.

Sad but true and there's nothing we Westerners can do to change their mindset.

[NomadJoe]

On Friday I drove past a pickup on the road from the Honda garage where about four people were unloading trash, including a whole load of polystyrene, and just dumping it on the side of the road.

If you see that, call 191 immediatly and take pictures of the people and license plates if you can. The police have asked this be done and will act one a report.