Whilst the full economic and environmental damage to Phuket and local Andaman coastlines is yet to be realised, the evidence of the catastrophe keeps rolling up along the shores of the island.
Two more sea turtles have been rescued from Phuket’s northern beaches after being found covered in oil. Officials are investigating the source of oil slicks that have appeared several beaches along the island’s west coast.
It’s understood that police reports have been filed against a number of unnamed vessels, which marine officials believe may have dumped engine oil or bunker oil into the waters off the coastline of Phuket. The oil slick has also landed on beaches north and south of the island as well, as far north as Thai Muang Beach in Phang Nga.
The Phuket Express reports that on Tuesday, August 8, officials from the Sirinart National Park, in the northern district of Thalang, were informed that local residents at Nai Yang Beach had found a turtle covered in oil. The turtle was 29 centimetres long and 30 centimetres wide, according to the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.
On the same day, the DMCR received a report from a lifeguard stationed at Mai Khao Beach, about 3 kilometres north of Nai Yang, who said he too had found a turtle covered in oil. In that case, the creature was just 15 centimetres wide and 16 centimetres long.
According to the Phuket Express report, both turtles had the oil cleaned off them and have been taken to the Sireetarn Marine Endangered Animals Rescue Centre for ongoing treatment.
SOURCE: The Phuket Express
