Turtles to benefit from boxing bouts
PHUKET: The turtles of Phuket are set to benefit from a good boxing on July 6.
Tanyaluk Sakoot
Monday 18 June 2012, 06:04PM
It has been announced that proceeds from ticket sales for two World Boxing Organization (WBO) Championship bouts will go to conserving turtles.
The first fight will be between Kwanpichit 13 Rien Express and Paithong Meaung Siima in the Oriental Flyweight Division, and the second between bantamweights Puengluay Sor Singyuu and Ray Mattrino of the Philippines.
There will be three other matches on the bill, involving local fighters.
The matches are a unique initiative involving the Department Of Special Investigations (DSI), the Sakhoo Tambon Administration Organization and the Third Area Naval Command of the Royal Thai Navy, which has supported turtle conservation in Phuket for decades.
The slugfest will take place at the Nai Yang boxing ring, starting at 3 pm, and will be broadcast by Thai TV Channel 7.
Dr Kongkait Kittiwattanawong, head of the rare sea animal group at the Ministry of Nature Resources and Environment, explained that only about 100 turtles nest on Mai Khao beach every year, compared with as many as 10,000 in the past.
“That is a warning of turtle extinction. And the turtle is a way to evaluate the environment of the Andaman Sea as a whole,” he said.
