Visit to the Center for Sea Turtles Conservation of the Royal Thai Navy

Greeting and salutation, today I would like to present a serie of pictures of my visit to the Royal Thai Navy 's Sea Turtle Conservation Center. Three of my cousins are in the Navy and through them and their very insisting invitations, I have been recruited to get involve with the conservation effort for sea turtles. I know that it is a bit off the usual pets issue that we cover every day, but I think that all animal lovers will also love to see the conservation efforts to save these beautiful and endagered species. This program has been one of the most successful program on record. We have been able to achive some of the greatest numbers of returned turtles to lay eggs in the area that the programs cover. This year the program has recovered over 3,000 eggs for hatching thus far. It takes the turtles 15 years after release before they will return to lay eggs.

The Navy Center for Sea Turtles Conservation is located at the Command Post of the Naval Coast Guard and Artillery Defense Force at the Sattaheep Naval Base (a half hour past Pattaya City) in the Chonburi Province. The Royal Thai Navy has been the center for the sea turtles conservation effort in Thailand since 1950. The Sattaheep Naval Base area is quite a large area of coastal land and many islands (16 beaches on various island and coastal areas) which constitue prime and natural habitats and nursery area for many species of sea turtles. This branch of the service works hand in hand with the private sector in this conservation efforts. The Center operates mainly on partial government fundings and public donations.

The objectives of the Sea Turtles Conservation Center is to be the academic and practical training nursery center for the rehabilitation and release back to the wild of all sea turtles hatchlings. The Center also doubles as a model research center for sea turtles in Thailand as well. And most important of all the Center acts as a public relation center for the conservation efforts of sea turtle in general, to raise awareness of their plight and to urge people to get involve with the conservation of these important resources. And to further understand that the only way that we will be able to help the endagered animals of the world is that we have to conserve all the existing precious natural habitats that are currently being desimated all through out the globe. One day we all might find that the one that we are saving is none other than ourselves.

If any of you plan to vacation around the Pattaya area in Thailand and would like to visit the Center or make donations or simply want to get involve, please kindly contact me here or at AbsoluteRanchu@yahoo.com for more details. If you plan ahead and you donate some money to the Center, you can also release some sea turtles back to the wild too. The bigger the group the better, since larger donation amount will make possible larger amount of turtles for you or your group to release back to the wild. I promise you that the activity will leave you brimming with joy and a big smile. Watching the little babies swim out into the sunset is quite a sight to see. The Center also have a web page but the information are all in Thai. Feel free to browse around for the nice pictures if you like.

www.navy.mi.th.turtles

Remember to never utilize any products or food items that are derived from sea turtles or any endagered species. Do not invade natural nusery habitats during breeding season (learn to get involved). Do not pollute the rivers, water ways or the ocean. Dissiminate and instill the conservation message in all your love ones and help to work for the Mother Earth. The lives you save, may be your own, and those that you dearly love.

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Think globally, act locally.

Peace be with you.

Pat Bhukkanasut


Picture 1 - 2: Pictures of the Naval Turtle Conservation Center,

Picture 3: a picture of His Majesty King Bhumipol, and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit releasing some sea turtles back to the wild,

Picture 4: the Logo of the Conservation Center,

Picture 5: a picture of the Sattaheep Naval Base area that the program covers.

Attached Images

     

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Loyalty above all else, except honor.

Picture 1: The Briefing Center for the Program.

Picture 2: The Navy Turtle welcoming visitors.

Picture 3: Briefing by the Sargeant in charge of the Center.

Picture 4: Navy Sargent in charge of Public Relation

Picture 5: Sea Turtle on show

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Loyalty above all else, except honor.

Picture 1: Green Turtle on display

Picture 2: Heading to see the facilities of the Center

Picture 3: Hawksbill Turtle holding pond- 30 hatched on 20 October 2005

Picture 4: Green turtle holding pond

Picture 5: Hawksbill Turtle hatchlings

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Loyalty above all else, except honor.

Picture 1: Adult Green turtle

Picture 2: Hawksbill tutles

Picture 3: Albino Hawksbill turtles

Picture 4: Albino Hawksbill turtle

Picture 5: Feeding the turtle

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__________________
Loyalty above all else, except honor.

Picture 1: Feeding the turtles.

Picture 2: This beach is the release point of the baby hatchlings.

Picture 3: Hatchling ready for release.

Picture 4: Hawksbill turtle hatchling ready for release.

Picture 5: Hawksbill turtle hatchling ready for release.

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__________________
Loyalty above all else, except honor.

Picture 1: Every one releasing the turtles.

Picture 2: My turn at releasing.

Picture 3: Ready, steady, go!

Picture 4: Going out to sea.

Picture 5: See you back in 15 years little guys.

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__________________
Loyalty above all else, except honor.

Picture 1: Live long and prosper little friends.

Picture 2: Navy Green Turtles

Picture 3: The Center of Sea Turtles Conservation of the Royal Thai Navy.


I would like to express my most sincere thanks to the Royal Thai Navy and Lt.Commander of the H.M.S. Thaypa for his most kind consideration and assistance in this endeavour.

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Loyalty above all else, except honor.

Pat,
looks like a very fruitful trip for you. I believe the Navy in your country is the only one in the world that is directly involved in such conservation program.

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