Local residents called Kusoldharm rescue workers in Patong after finding the turtle’s remain washed up on the beach at 10:30am.
The remains were taken to Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC), where experts at the Rare Sea Animal Division are working on determining the animal’s cause of death.
“The turtle was an Olive Ridley sea turtle, about 10-15 years. It weighed about 17.5 kilogrammes,” said Dr Patcharaporn Gaewmong, a veterinarian at the PMBC.
“There were no wounds or injuries on turtle’s body, and we believe the turtle died about two to three days before it washed ashore.
“We are working on what caused the turtle’s death. Due to the condition of the remains, it is proving very difficult to figure this out,” she said.
Additional reporting by Tanyaluk Sakoot