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Olive Ridley Turtle Rescued from Ghost Net at Karon Beach
An olive ridley sea turtle was pulled to safety on 14 July 2026 after becoming tangled in a discarded fishing net on the shoreline at Karon Beach, Phuket. A beach lifeguard spotted the animal and called in a veterinary team from Sireetarn Marine Endangered Animals Rescue Centre, who took the turtle into rehabilitation. It will be released back into the Andaman Sea once it has recovered. The incident is a reminder of how ghost gear, fishing nets left behind or lost at sea, continues to threaten marine wildlife along Thailand's coasts.
About the Olive Ridley
The olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) is the smallest sea turtle species in the world and also the most numerous globally. Adults grow to around 75-80 cm and weigh up to 50 kg. The shell is smooth and greyish-green, and the easiest way to identify one is to count the lateral scutes: olive ridleys have 6-8, while most other species have just 4. They also carry two pairs of prefrontal scales on the head.
These turtles are capable divers, reaching depths of up to 300 m, but they feed in shallower coastal waters on shrimp, molluscs, crabs, and fish.
Where They Nest in Thailand
In Thailand, olive ridleys are concentrated along the Andaman coast, particularly around Phuket and Phang Nga. Known nesting beaches include Rah, Phra Thong, and Kho Khao islands, Thai Mueang Beach in Phang Nga, and Mai Khao, Kamala, and Rawai on Phuket. Sightings in the Gulf of Thailand are rare.
Nesting happens between October and March, which lines up almost exactly with high tourist season. Females do not nest every year; the interval is typically one to three years, and breeding only begins once the shell reaches 60-65 cm.
Nest numbers have been declining, and researchers have flagged the possibility of local extinction if the trend continues. The species is fully protected under Thailand's Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act BE 2535 (1992), meaning any interference, handling, or harm is a criminal offence.
What Tourists Should Know
Ghost gear (abandoned or lost fishing nets and lines) turns up on Phuket beaches and in the water, and it poses a real hazard to both marine animals and swimmers or snorkellers who get caught in it. If you spot a net on the beach or in the shallows, give it a wide berth and report it.
If you come across a turtle or any other marine animal in distress, the right move is to contact a beach lifeguard immediately. Do not attempt to handle the animal yourself.
During nesting season (October through March), you may see sections of beach taped off to protect nest sites. Respect those boundaries and keep your distance, including at night when females come ashore to lay eggs.
Information sourced from Bangkok Post.