Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation organize
Turtle Release ‘New Year New life’

Assuring Mai Khao’s Ecological Future

Photo enclosed caption:
(From Right) Mr. Robert J. Lohrmann with Dr. Kongkiet kittiwattanawong, Mark Hehir and representative from Royal Thai Navy, Phuket

Phuket, Thailand - The Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation in conjunction with JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, Anantara Phuket Villas, Sala Phuket Resort & Spa, and Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa hold Turtle Release “New Year New Life” on Chinese New Year, February 4th, 2011, in the event to raise funds and awareness for the plight of the critically endangered Sea Turtles in Phuket with more than 100 participants and release 30 green turtles back to the Andaman sea.

The objective of the event is not only giving baby turtles a new start but also bring back new life to injured turtles as the funds raised from this event will be separated to support the Hatchery Program by Royal Thai Navy and also Injured Turtles Rehabilitation program which have been taken care by Phuket Marine Biological Center.  Local Mai Khao villagers together with Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation, Phuket Marine Biological Center and Royal Thai Navy have been working very hard to protect these magnificent reptiles. 

Mr. Robert J. Lohrmann, the president of Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation, said that this “Mai Khao Turtle Release was organized with collaboration of the foundation and 4 North Phuket Resorts with the aims to take social responsibilities to reserve Mai Khao’s environment and raise awareness of saving Mai Khao Beach as the nesting area for sea turtles as in the past.” Other projects include beach and reef clean up, mini marathons and educational projects for Mai Khao students, all of which were created to assure Mai Khao’s ecological future.

Besides the turtle release, the foundation also organized Turtle Walk Rally, along the way from Pru-Jeh-san Lake, Mai Khao to JW Marriott Phuket with educational game stations about how to take care of environment and knowledge about circle life of sea turtle.
    
For more information about the foundation, please contact Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation Coordinator, via email info@maikhaoturtlefoundation.com , telephone 086-689 2230.