The Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation organized The 8 th Mai Khao Marine Turtle Release Ceremony on Songkran Day At JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa
17 April 2017 Phuket, Thailand – The Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation and its partners organized the 8th
annual Mai Khao Marine Turtle Release Ceremony on Songkran day, April 13. With five hundred hotel’s guests,
Phuket residents, tourists and provincial dignitaries gathered at Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa’s beachfront and
were welcomed by General Manager of the hotel, Mr. Oriol Montal.
The ceremony, presided over by Vice Governor of Phuket Sivaporn Chuasawas alongside with guests of honour
among Acting Sub Lieutenant Vigrom Charktee, Thalang Sheriff; Dr. Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong, Director of
Phuket Marine Biological Center; Captain Suthisak Cheu-Muang-Pak, Director of Department of Civil Affairs, 3rd
Naval Area Command; Mr. Vitoon Dechpramualpol, Intendent of Sirinart National Park; Mrs. Juttarat Ninlahut,
Asst. Director of The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Phuket Office.
“This is a fantastic day and phenomenal way to begin the Thai New Year by releasing 53 new batches of
rehabilitated green turtles into the Andaman Sea and It’s become our traditional event during Songkran Festival
by now. Sea Turtles represent longevity in Thai culture and releasing animals to nature is believed to bring good
luck to the participants. The hotel guests were delighted as this is distinctive experience of their Phuket holiday”
said, Mr. Oriol Montal, General Manager.
All monies have raised through donations during the event, it went towards supporting the Mai Khao Marine
Turtle Foundation and its partners: the Phuket Marine Biological Centre’s injured Turtle Rehabilitation Program
and the Third Naval Area Command’s Turtle Hatchery Program.
Furthermore, the Mai Khao Turtle Foundation also organized the exclusive Turtle release programs on April 15
and 16 from 9 am – 10 am together with IUCN once again this year. The event was supported by the Phuket
Marine Biological Center, The Royal Thai Navy, Department of Marine & Coastal Resources and the International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN
