MAI KHAO MARINE TURTLE FOUNDATION AND MAI KHAO SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION FUND
130 Rehabilitated Green Turtles Released Back to the Sea

“Freedom”, a seven-year-old Hawksbill Turtle, was released to the sea on Mai Khao Beach

2 month old turtle was released to the sea.

More than 500 Thai people and foreigners joined a beautiful opportunity to free the turtles together on Mai Khao Beach, Phuket.

The Mai Khao Sea Turtle Conservation Fund and the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation recently released back to the sea a total of 130 green sea turtles, age between 2 months to 12 months which had been rehabilitated and nurtured by the Phuket Marine Biological (PMBC) and the Royal Thai Navy. “Freedom”, a seven-year-old Hawksbill Turtle, was also among the sea turtles released at at Mai Khao Beach.

More than 500 Thai people and foreigners participated in the opportunity to free the turtles together on Mai Khao Beach in Phuket.

Poo-Yai Manote Saitong, Village Chief of Mai Khao Moo 4 and head of “Mai Khao Sea Turtle Conservation Fund” said that “This year, we are very happy that we received very good cooperation from the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation, the Royal Thai Navy, PMBC, local communities, tourists, Thai people and many other organizations. Donations will be used for patrolling Mai Khao beach, protecting the environment for the sea turtles and supporting community activities. I hope that the released turtles will come back and lay their eggs on Mai Khao Beach again”.

Tourists who joined the event said that they had a great experience when the turtles were released from their hands and swam freely. They also looked forward to joining this event again next year.

For more information on this event and to reserve turtle juveniles, please contact the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation coordinator via mail at info@maikhaoturtlefoundation.com

Source: Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation release dated April 2009