An officer from the Marine Endangered Species Unit at the Phuket Marine Biology Centre (PMBC) this morning received report from Mr Phajon Kaewmak, an officer from the Cherng Talay Tambon Administrative Organisation (OrBorJor), that a big turtle carcass was found on Surin Beach in Cherng Talay.
The PMBC officer arrived at 10am to inspect carcass and identified it as a large mature olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) 70cm in length.
The officer identified a wound on the left side of the turtle’s shell consistent with an injury from a boat propeller.
He also noted that the turtle had been dead for several days due to the extent of decay.
The carcass was taken to the PMBC for further study.
The turtle was found at the same beach that a sperm whale carcass was also found on two days earlier (May 31). See story here.