Olive Ridley turtle rescued from Nai Yang Beach in Phuket

An adult female Olive Ridley turtle rescued from Nai Yang Beach in Phuket is receiving treatment and rehabilitation at the Sireetharn Rare Marine Animal Rescue Center.

Officials from the Upper Andaman Marine and Coastal Resources Research and Development Center (Upper Andaman MCR-RDC) received a report of the stranded turtle through the 1362 hotline on Saturday, 12 September 2026. Sirinat National Park staff provided initial assistance before transferring the turtle to the rescue centre.

Marine biologists identified it as an adult female Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea). The turtle measured 66 centimetres in shell length and 67cm in width, and weighed 33 kilogrammes. Its body condition was assessed as thin, with a score of 2 out of 5.

Barnacles and algae covered its body and shell. Veterinarians also found a hardened area beneath the skin at the base of its neck and pus inside its mouth.

The turtle has been admitted for treatment, rehabilitation and monitoring. Officials said its physical condition would be assessed periodically, and that it could be released into the wild once it is healthy and strong enough to survive in its natural habitat.

The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources urged the public to report stranded, injured or otherwise abnormal marine animals by calling 1362, which operates 24 hours a day.