One silver lining of the Covid-19 pandemic that devastated tourism and the economic system in Thailand and the world is that nature benefitted tremendously from a little bit of a breather from the throngs of people trampling around the earth. Reports of wildlife revitalising have been seen all over the world. In Phuket, the absence of tourists has given sea turtles the privateness and security to spawn in higher numbers.
More turtle nests have been noticed in Phuket than had been ever found in the days before the pandemic, in accordance with the Phuket Marine Biological Centre. A variety of totally different sea turtle species have been spotted nesting and laying hundreds of eggs across the island throughout 2021. During heavy tourist times, nesting places are limited, but with the peace and quiet, baby hatchlings can crawl out of their eggs and waddle down the beach to the sea.
Key lay their eggs which then hatch and the babies crawl into the ocean, solely to return back to the seaside when they’re old enough to lay their own eggs and the generational cycle will proceed. It’s not straightforward although, with natural causes taking out a lot of turtles even without the human interference and air pollution within the water and the surroundings. It is estimated only 1 in 1,000 eggs hatch and survive to full maturity.
But it’s hoped that the peaceable conditions that allowed many breeds of sea turtles to thrive this year will proceed post-Covid for the following era of turtles. Species like the olive ridley sea turtle, which hadn’t been seen in 20 years, are being noticed on the seashores of Phuket now. Hawksbill, leatherback, loggerhead, and green turtles have been seen nesting around the island.
Now, authorities are seizing the chance for sea turtle conservation, with nests being fenced off and monitored with CCTV each time they are discovered, as specialists from the Phuket Marine Biological Centre attempt to make up for the harm done by people over the years. The major cause of death in sea turtles is plastic waste, nets, and fishing lines, and 56% of all sea turtles that are seen in the Centre have plastic waste both in their system or tangled around their physique.
In 1982 the government banned amassing sea turtle eggs, which were commonly eaten in Thailand until lately, and having or promoting some turtle eggs can land somebody in jail for up to 15 years. The Centre believes that educating the public about conservation and protecting turtles and eggs is key in seeing the population develop in years to come, Covid-19 or not..