Large sea turtle found dead at Phuket Beach, cause of death unknown

Marine wildlife experts have yet to determine what killed a large turtle found dead on Phuket’s Kamala Beach on Friday.

Local residents called Kusoldharm rescue workers in Patong after finding the turtle’s remain washed on the beach at 10:30am.

The remains were taken to Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) and experts at the Rare Sea Animal Division are working on determining the animal’s cause of death.

“The turtle was an olive ridley sea turtle, about 10-15 years. It weighed about 17.5 kilograms,” said Dr Patcharaporn Gaewmong, a veterinarian at the PMBC.

“There were no wounds or injuries on the turtle’s body, and we believe the turtle died about two to three days before it washed ashore.

“We are working to determine what caused the turtle’s death. Due to the condition of the remains, it is proving very difficult to figure this out,” she said.

The turtle would not have died of old age since that species has an average lifespan of about 50 years.

Story: The Phuket News