By Dora Szabados | GVI Phang Nga, Base Manager
Dear Supporters,
We have hit the new year with determination and enthusiasm with regards to our new fundraising objectives.
Sea Turtles
We've begun an innovative research study at both the Sea Turtle Head Start Centres that we are partnered with to assess the level of infection found on the skin of the turtles.
We have also implemented an enrichment and behavioural study.
A new location for exploratory surveys
We have set up a brand new coastal conservation project on a unique and undeveloped island called Koh Prathong, roughly 3 hours away from our base in Ban Nam Khem. We will conduct coral reef monitoring surveys in partnership with Green Fins Thailand, terrestrial and multi-habitat wildlife surveys and community engagement projects.
On one of the first visits that GVI staff made to the island, they were made aware by locals that it is quite common to see Sunda pangolins (Manis Javanica) on the island and the nearby island of Koh Ra. Unfortunately, pangolins have shot to fame in recent years for the wrong reason – they are the most illegally trafficked mammal in the world, with their meat, skin and scales being smuggled into parts of Asia for use in traditional medicines. As very little is known about these solitary and elusive creatures, any information about this population we gather whilst working on the island will be extremely beneficial towards other studies on pangolins which are currently being conducted in other parts of Thailand.
It is going to be a busy year for us, but we are very excited about these new projects and hope that you will continue to support the work that we are doing in Southern Thailand.
With Gratitude,
GVI Thailand
By Molly Plexico | GVI Thailand, Country Director
By Juliet Cussaguet | GVI Phang Nga, Service Learning Lead Coordinator
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