Leatherback Sea Turtle Lays 119 Eggs on Phang Nga Beach

A leatherback sea turtle laid 119 eggs on a beach at Lam Pi–Hat Thai Mueang National Park in Phang Nga this week, according to Thai marine officials.

Dr. Pinsak Suraswadi, director-general of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, said the nesting was reported by the Upper Andaman Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center. Of the 119 eggs, 99 were viable and 20 were infertile.

Officials implanted a microchip in the mother turtle, numbered 900219002554394, and collected mucus, blood, egg and sand samples for health and genetic studies.

Because the nest was in an area at risk of flooding and predation, conservation teams moved the eggs to a safer site. The operation involved Department of Marine and Coastal Resources staff, national park rangers, researchers from the Marine National Park Study and Research Center in Phuket, and citizen science volunteers. A protective enclosure was built to improve the hatchlings’ chances of survival.

The department said the work follows a conservation policy promoted by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin, calling for coordinated action among agencies to restore marine ecosystems and protect endangered species.

Leatherback turtles are critically endangered. Dr. Pinsak said each successful nesting is an important step in supporting the species’ population in Thai waters.