The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources has announced good news that a leatherback turtle has laid eggs at Bang Lut Beach in Phang Nga Province. A total of 91 eggs were counted, with 84 being viable. The eggs are expected to hatch around March.
On 24 January 2026, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, through the Andaman Sea Upper Coast Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center and Marine and Coastal Resources Office 6, discovered signs of a leatherback turtle nesting at Bang Lut Beach, Bang Muang Subdistrict, Takua Pa District, Phang Nga Province, at UTM coordinates 419342 E 976064 N. The tracks, observed overnight, measured 160 cm wide between the front flippers and the carapace width was 65 cm. The tracks were notably large compared to a local motorcycle.
Officials from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources promptly surveyed and located the egg nest to implement protective academic measures closely. Examination found eggs at a depth of 39 cm, with an average diameter of 5.36 cm. Ninety-one eggs were counted: 84 viable, 6 infertile, and 1 cracked in the nest. Since the nest was in an area subject to tidal flooding, the eggs were relocated to a nearby suitable and safe hatching site, where a protective enclosure was set up to guard against natural threats.
It is expected that these leatherback turtle eggs will incubate for approximately 55–60 days, with hatching scheduled between 19 and 23 March 2026. Officials have informed the local community to closely monitor the nest until the hatchlings emerge and safely reach the sea.
This event represents a positive sign reflecting the richness of the marine ecosystem on the Andaman coast and serves as an important hope for the long-term conservation of Thailand's marine resources.
