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Several days of stormy conditions at sea made it a bad time to be a disabled turtle around Phuket. In one 48 hour period this week, four turtles – three Olive Ridleys, each missing a fin and a Green Turtle injured by a fishing net – were washed onto Phuket beaches – two at Kamala and two on Bangtao Beach.

All four were taken into the care of the Phuket Marine Biological Center's Endangered Species Unit. PMBC veterinarian Dr Patcharaporn Gaewmong believes that all three turtles had been unable to eat recently and in their weakened condition were struggling to survive at sea in the inclement conditions.

Many turtles lose fins around Phuket when they become caught up in discarded fishing nets. While others become sick from accidentally consuming garbage or plastic dumped into the sea

This monsoon season has seen more than ten sick turtle washed ashore so far. Most of the endangered creature had lost flippers, and some were suffering trauma and infections from swallowing plastic bags.