"Leatherback turtle" laid 95 eggs out of season within Khao Lampi–Hat Thai Mueang National Park. Officials are urgently relocating the nest to a safe area.
On 30 Apr 2026 GMT+7, Ms. Panatthaporn Ketsakul, head of Khao Lampi–Hat Thai Mueang National Park in Thai Mueang District, Phang Nga Province, revealed that on 29 Apr 2026 GMT+7, the park received a report from locals about signs of a leatherback turtle laying eggs near the beach close to park protection unit LP.3 (Pang). Upon notification, park officials promptly inspected the site and coordinated with the Marine National Park Study and Research Center 2 in Phuket to jointly survey and collect detailed data.
Inspection found a total of 98 leatherback turtle eggs, consisting of 85 fertile eggs and 13 infertile ones. The mother turtle measured approximately 100 centimeters in carapace width, 200 centimeters in flipper span, with the egg chamber 100 centimeters deep and 40 centimeters wide.
The eggs averaged 4.68 centimeters in size. Officials assessed that the nesting site was at risk of flooding by seawater, so they excavated and relocated all eggs to the beach area in front of the tourist service center. A protective enclosure was strictly established to ensure the eggs incubate naturally and safely.
It is expected that the leatherback turtle eggs will incubate for about 55–65 days. This out-of-season nesting is rare, last observed in 2020, and is considered a positive sign of the marine ecosystem's health in Phang Nga Province.