GVI

Phang Nga Monthly Achievement Report

January 2016

GVI Phang Nga Attends the Phang Nga Royal Thai Navy Sea Turtle Conservation Centre Turtle
Release

United Nations Millennium Development Goal
Ensure environmental sustainability
Global partnerships for development

Summary
Volunteers and staff are invited to the Phang Nga Royal Thai Navy Sea Turtle Conservation Centre
turtle release in honor of the Kings birthday. Two hundred turtles, approximately 6-months of age,
which had been raised and cared for at the centre, with the help of GVI Phang Nga conservation
volunteers were released back to the sea.

Report
The Phang Nga Royal Thai Navy Sea Turtle Conservation Centre started in 1994 after survey reports
showed dangerously low levels of local sea turtle populations. Green turtle hatchlings are collected
from Similan Island 1 and relocated to the centre where they are cared for, cleaned and fed until
they are fit to return to the sea. Marine turtles face many threats in the wild including harvesting of
eggs for human consumption, harvesting of adult shells for jewelry, accidental by-catch, and rubbish
causing entanglement, injury and death. Because sea turtle hatchlings are very vulnerable during
the first months of their lives, the head-starting process practiced by the Royal Thai Navy allows
them to have a much better chance of survival.

GVI Phang Nga volunteers offer assistance the Phang Nga Royal Thai Navy Sea Turtle Conservation
Centre by helping clean the turtles and the tanks once a week. GVI volunteers also aid with envi-
ronmental enrichments for the turtles to improve their living conditions while they are at the centre.
A favourite activity for many of the conservation volunteers, GVI volunteers pick seaweed at a local
beach to feed to the adult turtles kept at the centre. GVI Phang Nga has also created advertising
brochures for the turtle centre to be distributed to tourists to promote the centre as well as bring
awareness to the threats faced by marine turtles.

After being raised for approximately 6-8 months, The Phang Nga Royal Thai Navy Sea Turtle Conser-
vation Centre releases the juvenile turtles to live out the rest of their lives at sea. The centre keeps a
portion of the turtles until they reach at least 1 year of age, so that upon their release they can be
tagged only turtles older than a year will be tagged. Turtle releases happen twice a year, in honour
of the King and Queens birthdays.

This year, to honour the Kings birthday, GVI Phang Nga volunteers and staff were invited to the tur-
tle release. The day started with a marching band and many salutes and speeches by top Navy Offi-
cials. Next, all attendees headed to the beach to let the turtles go. It was great for volunteers that
had spent days cleaning and caring for the baby turtles to be able to see them reach their forever
home again. Two hundred juvenile turtles were released that day.

GVI continues to work towards its long-term objective to support coastal conservation efforts in the
Phang Nga area. If you would like to read more about this project and sign up to volunteer, please
visit our website, like our Facebook page and follow us on twitter for the latest up to date
information direct from the field.
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