🌴 Off the sunny shores of Phuket, Thailand's marine conservationists have given 11 baby leatherback sea turtles a new lease on life! 🌊✨ These little adventurers, each about the size of a rugby ball, were released into the Indian Ocean with hopes they'll return in two decades to continue the circle of life. 🌅🐢
But their journey wasn't easy. After discovering in 2018 that these endangered turtles had returned to nest in southern Thailand, conservationists sprang into action. Some babies were too weak to make it to the ocean on their own, so a special program was launched to nurse them back to health. 💪❤️
Thailand is now one of just five countries, alongside Sri Lanka and Canada, to successfully nurture these little ones up to their first birthday! 🎂🌎 The release in April was extra special because each turtle is equipped with a satellite tag. This way, scientists can keep an eye on their epic journeys as part of an international initiative by Upwell Turtles. 🛰️🌐
\"It's crucial for us to track where these baby turtles go so we can protect them along the way,\" said Pinsak Suraswadi, Director-General of Thailand's Department of Marine and Coastal Resources. 🌊🔍
Despite surviving since the time of the dinosaurs 🦖, leatherback turtles are now critically endangered in the Pacific, with fewer than 2,300 adult females left. The challenges they face are real—from fishing gear dangers to mistaking plastic waste for food. 🐢💔
Senior fishery biologist Hirun Kanghae shared his hopes: \"I'm thrilled to see if our year-long efforts in nurturing these turtles pay off. If they survive, it means everything for the conservation and restoration of leatherback sea turtles.\" 🙏🌟
As these tiny travelers embark on their great ocean adventure, we cheer them on and hope to see them return to Thailand's shores someday. Safe travels, little ones! 🐢💖🌊
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
