Thammasat University students may have noticed that last month, World Turtle Day was celebrated. The purpose of World Turtle Day is to raise awareness of environmental challenges that threaten turtle populations in different nations. Even for people who are not especially interested in turtles, it is useful to know if their populations are threatened by air or water pollution, because that means living conditions may also be dangerous for human beings. The TU Library owns a number of books about turtles as well as some specific research on the subject of turtles in Thailand.

These include Turtles and tortoises by John Lehrer; Turtles of the world by Carl H. Ernst and Roger W. Barbour, The green sea turtle by Chris Meramec, illustrated by Diane Blasius; The story of life in 25 fossils: tales of intrepid fossil hunters and the wonders of evolution by Donald R. Prothero; The Turtle and the island: folk tales from Papua New Guinea, collected by Donald S. Stokes, retold by Barbara Ker Wilson, illustrated by Tony Oliver; Way of the turtle by Curtis M. Faith; WTO and global resources: the shrimp-turtle dispute by Sakda Thanitcul; Good Aquaculture Practices For Freshwater Animal Hatchery and Nursery Part 2 Softshell Turtle: Guidance On The Application Of Thai Agricultural Standard : TAS 7421 (G.2)-2014; and the video Fate of the sea turtle, produced by Panorama Documentary in association with the Siam Commercial Bank Public Company Limited, among other items. The video may be seen at the Rewat Buddhinan Media Center on the U2 level of the Pridi Banomyong Library, Tha Prachan campus.

World Turtle Day is sponsored by American Tortoise Rescue (ATR), a nonprofit animal rescue organization dedicated to the rehabilitation, adoption and protection of all tortoise and turtle species, and the protection of their environments. When baby turtles are found in poor health, so that they cannot be adopted by host families, then ATR cares for the turtles for the rest of their lives. Some of the turtles arrive at ATR from law enforcement authorities, when they are seized from homes where they are being kept in inadequate conditions. ATR is based in Malibu, California, United States of America. Since it was founded in 1990, ATR has rescued over 1000 turtles and 2000 tortoises. World Turtle Day is commemorated in different ways, including student research projects and lesson plans.

Thai turtle expertise

A recent article in Khaosod English newspaper quotes Assistant Professor Nantarika Chansue, Ph.D., Aquatic Animal Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chulalongkorn University. Assistant Professor Nantarika earned a Ph.D. in Marine Science, specializing in immunotoxicology, from The College of William & Mary, a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. Immunotoxicology is the study of toxicity, or the degree to which a chemical substance can damage an organism, affecting the immune system. Ajarn Nantarika also received a master of arts degree in political science from Ramkhamhaeng University, a master of business administration degree from Assumption University, a bachelor of science degree in veterinary medicine from Chulalongkorn University, and bachelor of law degree from Ramkhamhaeng University. Ajarn Nantarika told Khaosod English:

Thailand is a country with rich turtle biodiversity, but Thais just use them to make merit. They are going extinct or being tortured because of us humans. Instead of tum boon in the wrong places, let’s do good by buying food and medicine and supporting proper rehabilitation.

In 2014, Ajarn Nantarika explained to The Bangkok Post that her belief that all lives are worth saving was inspired by her father, Professor Prasit Bodhipaksha, former dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Science at Chulalongkorn University. Ajarn Nantarika and her father cowrote an English-to-Thai dictionary for veterinarians.

So rather than throwing a tortoise into a khlong where it may be endangered, it may help to become aware of the work done by Thailand’s only emergency turtle care center at the Veterinary Medical Aquatic Animals Research Center, Chulalongkorn University.

Its website states:

Our mission is to improve the prevention and treatment of diseases of animals by defining and applying best clinical practice, by understanding and developing the science underpinning best practice, and by embedding an education programme in the veterinary sciences that delivers the best veterinary practitioners, academics and research scientists.

After receiving medical treatment, most injured turtles are returned to forest life. During the rainy season, turtles may walk out of wooded areas onto roads, where they are endangered.

Also doing rescue work is the Royal Thai Navy Sea Turtle Conservation Center on Juk Samed Beach at the Air and Coastal Defense Command, Sattahip Sattahip, Chon Buri. According to Museum Thailand, the RTNSTCC conserves sea turtles, and also features a nursery

that educates general public about sea turtles. In the past, the conservation of sea turtles begun in 1950 with a specialisation in sea turtle hatching and nursery for releases to the nature at Kram Island, Sattahip District, Chonburi. Years after, on 17 October 2001, the Royal Thai Navy had abolished the subcommittee of all conservation works. Consequently, the Naval Civil Affairs Department was designated as the administration division, which is responsible for the conservation of sea turtles, whereas the Air and Coastal Defense Command is responsible for the operation and implementation of the plans for the conservation and revival of natural resources and marine environment under the national maritime security policy that designated the Royal Thai Navy to serve as the operation division. The Sea Turtle Conservation was established according to the Royal Initiative of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, which is located within the Air and Coastal Defense Command, Sattahip District, Chonburi. The centre provides biological knowledge on the life cycle of sea turtles, as well as enhances the understanding and encourages the conservation of sea turtles for which will result in the conservation of relating natural resources that benefit the nature in various aspects. The centre serves as a nursery with correct academic practices and is able to return raised sea turtles back to the sea. As the source of learning and research of sea turtle conservation, the centre welcomes students and general public. Visitors will enjoy viewing and learning the life of sea turtles by which will encourage a sense of belonging with endangered sea turtles. The centre comprises exhibition room within the lecture building (with an in-house guide, video presentation and exhibition), sea turtle house, sea turtle hatchling facility, souvenir shop, coffee shop, recreational area and photo spots.

(All images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)