On a deserted beach in southern Thailand, a turtle digs a nest to lay a hundred whitish eggs, cover them again with sand, and return to the waters of the Andaman Sea.
Since the beginning of the pandemic and the decline in tourism, the number of sea turtles that come to spawn in this Southeast Asian kingdom has increased, where scientists try to preserve this endangered species.
This green turtle, observed on the islet of Koh Maiton near Phuket (south), will not return to watch over her eggs. They will hatch in about two months and the hatchlings will glide into the water, guided by the moonlight.
Only one in 1,000 will reach adulthood.
The warm waters that bathe Thailand are home to up to five species of sea turtle: leatherback, green, hawksbill, olive ridley and loggerhead.
“Their nesting has improved in the last two years thanks to the absence of tourists, noise and light pollution,” Kongkiat Kittiwatanawong, director of the Phuket Center for Marine Biology, told AFP.
This paradisiacal island welcomed millions of visitors before the crisis, which caused important annoyances to these animals, such as the excess of constructions on the coast or the overabundance of outboard boats.
But for months, everything stopped, allowing nature to regain its space.
Between October 2020 and February 2021, 18 leatherback nests, the largest species that can reach 400 kilos, were found in Phuket.
“We have never seen such a number in 20 years,” Kongkiat Kittiwatanawong is delighted.
An olive ridley nest was also found, the first in 20 years.
Similar phenomena were observed in India, the Philippines or the United States.
No long-term impact
But now that Thailand is timidly reopening its doors to tourism, scientists are tempering their optimism.
“The pandemic may offer sea turtles a healthy break,” says Thon Thamrongnawasawat of Bangkok’s Kasetsart University.
But “without effective policy to protect them, we do not think that this COVID crisis will have a real long-term impact,” he adds.
These animals have a great longevity, of up to 100 years in certain species. And in Thailand, as in many other countries, its future is threatened by climate change and human activity.
Global warming damages the coral reefs where they live and impacts the distribution of the sexes. The warmer the nest, the greater the chance that a female will emerge, which can upset the population balance.
Furthermore, marine debris continues to be the leading cause of disease and death.
“In 56% of cases, the turtles they bring us have either ingested (waste) or found themselves trapped in it,” explains Dr Patcharaporn Kaewong, from the Phuket Center for Marine Biology.
Its facilities currently house 58 specimens that are being cured. Some must be operated on, others amputated and fitted with a prosthesis before being returned to the sea.
Synergies with locals
Scientists and local authorities are on the alert for the entire nesting season, which lasts until February.
When a nest is detected, agents intervene. If the turtle has spawned too close to the water, they move it to a safe place.
If not, the nests are protected with bamboo fences and surveillance patrols are organized.
“After hatching, we take care of the weak turtles until they are strong enough to go to sea,” explains Patcharaporn Kaewong. His team also installs cameras near the nests to educate the local population.
The consumption of eggs was still a common practice in Phuket a few decades ago.
Collecting them has been prohibited since 1982 and the kingdom has not stopped tightening the legislation. Illegally possessing or selling leatherback turtle eggs is currently punishable by between 3 and 15 years in prison and a fine of $ 10,000 to $ 50,000.
The NGOs also financially reward locals who report the presence of a nest.
Specialists also turn to new technologies, such as satellite systems or electronic chips, to observe the animals.
“Thanks to this tracking, we have observed that they can migrate much further than we thought,” explains Kongkiat Kittiwatanawong. Some reach the north of Australia, thousands of kilometers from the paradisiacal beaches of Phuket.
