SURAT THANI: A 15th sea turtle nest has been found on a beach on Koh Samui, bringing the number of eggs found on the island to over 1,000 this year.
The same female earlier laid eggs in four nests on the island.
She came ashore again late on Monday night and made a fifth nest, on Ao Thong Nan beach in tambon Mared of Koh Samui, Surat Thani governor Wichawut Jinto said. Details were reported to him by the Koh Samui district chief.
This brought the number of nests on the island this year to 15, a fitting celebration of World Sea Turtle Day, which falls on June 16 every year.
The governor said local businesses, residents and officials had put up fences around the five nests made by the turtle, to protect them. They and the other nests were being carefully monitored.
The turtle, whose shell is about 83cm long and 76cm wide, has a tag on her left flipper with the number TH372. She nests on Koh Samui every second year.
“Since the beginning of this year, sea turtles have come ashore to lay eggs in 15 nests, setting a record, with more than 1,000 eggs.
"Of these eggs, 269 have hatched and baby sea turtles have been released into the sea. More than 700 baby sea turtles are expected to return to the sea this year.
"This is good news for Koh Samui residents and Thais across the country. More sea turtles are expected to lay eggs on Koh Samui," the governor said.
According to the Sea Turtles Conservancy (conserveturtles.org), sea turtles may lay more than one clutch during a nesting season. On average, sea turtles lay 110 eggs in a nest, and average between two to eight nests a season.
A fence protects a sea turtle nest on Koh Samui. (Supplied photo via Supapong Chaolan)
(Supplied photo via Supapong Chaolan)