Endangered sea turtles lay eggs on Thai beach after a decade

A silver lining of the pandemic has been a revitalization of wildlife and the environment. That is certainly true in Thailand, where officials said last week they found eggs laid by endangered sea turtles for the first time in a decade.

National park rangers discovered the eggs on a beach on Libong Island in southern Trang province. A total of 80 eggs were found. Officials moved them to higher ground so that high tides would not damage them.

Officials on Libong Island said the last batch of sea turtle eggs discovered many years ago did not survive because local reptiles ate them. The island does not permit hunting so that wildlife will have a chance to flourish. Some people consider sea turtle eggs a delicacy, so park and environment officials work to guard against them being poached.

Officials said they would build a fence around the new location for the eggs they have moved so that reptiles or other predators would not be able to get to them.

The pandemic has been both a blessing and a challenge for wildlife in Thailand. In recent months, people and scientists have observed a resurgence of forest life and marine life, including dolphins and whales. They believe the lack of human activity has allowed creatures to roam more freely and propagate.

On the other hand, some animals in captivity, mostly in zoos, safari parks and other attractions, have been tended less due to a lack of tourists. Animal sanctuaries and rescue centers, which have seen a decline in donations, have also been struggling to care for the abandoned animals.

Photo courtesy of  http://phangnga.go.th/main