Travel news - Eco tourism and national parks in Thailand

Turtles fail to show up

From late November until January sea turtles come to lay eggs along a 13-kilometre stretch of beach that is part of Khao Lampee-Hat Thai Muang Marine National Park in Phangnga. However, no eggs or turtles have been spotted so far this season.

"We only found their foot prints," said park chief Wattana Pornprasert. "We are not certain if their no show had anything to do with the tsunami that hit the region last year."

Khao Lampee-Hat Thai Muang is a popular tourist draw. Turtles come ashore at night and dig holes in the sand, each laying 70-100 eggs at a time.

"A turtle always comes back to the beach it was born to lay eggs," said his assistant Pralop Plangngan, explaining that after laying the first batch of eggs they usually return for a second round a fortnight later.

Four species - out of eight found in the world - can be spotted along the coast of the marine park. They are Leatherback turtle (Tao Mafeung), Olive Ridley turtle (Tao Yah), Green turtle (Tao Tanu) and Hawksbill turtle (Tao Kra).

According to Phuket Marine Biological Centre, the number of turtles nesting at the park has declined gradually over the years. Last year only four nests of Leatherback turtles were found compared to a record 25 in 1990 when nests of all the four species mentioned above were sighted.

The number continued to decline even after a two-metre-high dyke stretching two and a half kilometres was built to prevent coastal erosion.

Villagers living in the vicinity opposed construction of the wall, but local authorities ignored their protest. Now there are plans to extend the wall to the beach, but the park chief is against it because it would only serve as an obstacle for turtles coming there for nesting.

About 400 metres from the park's entrance is a marine biological centre that breeds turtles and fish. It has some very striking marine specimens, including the clown fish and giant turtles.

When the young ones grow to sufficient size they are released into the sea. The occasion is a tourist event with the next one scheduled March 6-10, which will be hosted jointly by the park and the marine centre.

Meanwhile, the park regularly runs evacuation and first-aid drills introduced in the wake of the tsunami to ensure safety of visitors.

These drills are also attended by local children who find the exercise amusing. Panuwat Samutrvaree,12, when asked about the drills said with a smile, "It's fun. I now know more about tsunami and how to deal with the situation if it strikes again."

His friend Suriya Klatalay, 11, said he was no longer afraid of tsunami and the knowledge he had gained would help him every time he goes out with his father to catch fish.

Villagers are also given on-hand training at workshops where they are taught how to deal with emergencies and natural disasters, according to Pralong Dumrongthai, director of the monitoring and evaluation office, the Ministry of National Resource and Environment.
Bangkok Post December 2005 www.bangkokpost.com