Disoriented sea turtles head for Koh Sak
Disoriented sea turtles head for Koh Sak
Patcharapol Panrak
Sea turtles that are apparently lost and have been swimming around Koh Sak have attracted crowds of divers to this part of the bay.
Director of the Pattaya City Office on nearby Koh Larn, Sutham Phetchgate, said that an earthquake might have disoriented the turtles, who would have normally gone to Koh Kram to lay their eggs. Sutham’s office is working with the Royal Thai Navy to ensure the turtles come to no harm.
The turtles, who are thought to number about 10, were brought to the attention of the general public on January 7 by Amnuoy Saengkaew, the 56-year-old owner of a dive shop and tourism boat service on Third Road. He said that since New Year, Thai and foreign tourists had been renting his boat to dive around Koh Sak, which is located to the north of Koh Larn, because they had discovered there were a lot of sea turtles swimming there. The turtles appeared to be unafraid of the human visitors, and didn’t shy away when swimmers approached with a camera.
Thai divers said that they were most likely the turtles looked after by the Royal Thai Navy at Koh Kram, and had lost their way. Or that they been attracted by the recent sinking of the warship Kood to the north of Koh Sak. The decommissioned vessel was deliberately scuttled to form another attraction for divers and a colony for sea life.
Sutham said that sea turtles had never been known to lay their eggs at Koh Larn, Koh Sak or Koh Krok.
Vice Admiral Chamnong Kittipeerachon, commander-in-chief of the First Fleet and director of the sea resources preservation center, said it was strange to see the turtles around Koh Sak, as there is usually too much sea traffic in this area for them.
Pattaya Mail
