Conquering Fears, Caring for Turtles: Dec 24

This weekend, we returned to the Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center in Rayong with a new team member who was initially nervous about getting close to the sea turtles and dealing with the inevitable mess. It was incredibly rewarding to see him face his fears and join us in caring for the injured turtles. Together, we cleaned the turtle pond, fed the turtles, and had the privilege of releasing one of the recovered turtles back into the wild. Along the way, we encountered some heartbreaking cases—a blind turtle and one with missing flippers, likely due to entanglement in fishing nets. These turtles will likely remain at the center permanently. It was an eye-opening experience that reminded us of the ongoing struggles these creatures face, and we are grateful to be part of a team dedicated to their care and recovery.