Thai Navy Releases More Than 700 Endangered Green Turtles
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTs9tTV0tP8
An annual ceremony to celebrate the Queen of Thailand's birthday was marked by the release of 779 green turtles on Tuesday.
The turtles were released from the Royal Thai Navy's Sea Turtle Conservation Center as a token of gratitude to Queen Sirikit who turns 78-years-old on Thursday.
[Kwanmoung Karestre, Thai Navy Commander]:
"There is less consumption of turtle meat and turtles' shells for decorations, after we became serious on conservation law enforcement against the poaching of sea turtles. Now the turtles are having more chance to survive."
Besides providing a sanctuary for hatching, the Thai Navy's center also contains a nursery for newly hatched baby turtles where they are cared and looked after until the age of six months, when they're released back to sea.
Hundreds of officials, conservationists and students take part in the event each year to watch the young turtles born and raised in the conservation center swim off to sea.
[Kwanmoung Karestre, Thai Navy Commander]:
"We are educating our young generation on awareness of our turtle conservation and thus, these young turtle ambassadors will extend their knowledge to others, becoming a conservation network to protect the turtles."
Most of the turtles are three to six months old, while seven are adults aged between six and 16 years old. The adult turtles have been fitted with microchips for conservation research.
About 10,000 young turtles are released from this center to the Gulf of Thailand every year. And their survival rates have increased over the past decade.
Set up 12 years ago, the center provides habitats and protection for more than 25,000 green and hawk-bill sea turtle eggs each year. It is considered the biggest turtles' nesting site in the Gulf of Thailand.
Sea turtles are listed as a threatened or endangered species on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources' Red List. -
nice.