Subscribe Now

travelers today

Home » News

'Holy Turtle' Ate Almost 1,000 Coins Thrown By Locals And Tourists

Travelers Today       By    Glory Moralidad

Updated: Mar 08, 2017 03:11 AM EST

Text Size: A A A

A town, Sri Racha, near the Gulf of Thailand, has a pond where people, locals and tourists toss coins for a turtle that was believed to be holy and brought them luck. Clearly a terrible idea--as Om Sin, the sea turtle, has suffered from eating almost 1,000 coins

Last Monday, the turtle had undergone a seven-hour surgery after suffering severe stomach pains. Veterinarians removed about 11 pounds of coins all in all. Chulalongkorn University's faculty of veterinary science, Pasakorn Brikshavana, told the Bangkok Post: "It is hard to imagine how it swallowed such a large number of coins. I've never seen such a case before."

The turtle was named as such by the doctors who saved her after noticing the the shell was bulging and infected--Om Sin in Thai means "piggy bank." The university will care for the turtle in a week on which after, Om Sin will be rehabilitated at the Sea Turtle Conservation Centre of the Royal Thai Navy in Sattahip, Chonburi.

Together with Om Sin, about a dozen other turtles were rescued from Sri Racha as well and were brought to turtle rescuer, Nantarika Chansue, who has been saving turtles for 15 years now. The Washington Post stated Chansue as saying that she had never seen a case like Om Sin's - 1,000 coins thrown by locals and tourists.

"I am not sure how to handle this, considering cost and survival chance [sic]," she stated on her Facebook page. About 15,000 baht was raised for the doctors to perform surgeon on the turtle.

In Thailand, the locals toss coins on a "released animal' from the wild." Tourists also do the same, leading to more danger. 

Meanwhile, other locals and tourists around globe poach and purchase turtle shells as souvenirs. Animal welfare groups are calling on tourists to stop buying turtle products as it encourages poachers to kill more of the animals.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018

Tags
Sri Racha , thailand , Thailand tourism , Thailand Travel , thailand news , animals , animal news , Animal Welfare Groups , animal cruelty , Animal Welfare
© 2023 Traverlers Today, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Join Our Conversation

Subscribe to our newsletter

Receive the latest travel news, reviews, and more..

Most Popular

6 Tips For Traveling With Young Children

6 Tips For Traveling With Young Children

Planning for a trip takes some time, even if it's just you g

How Traveling Can Make You Happy

How Traveling Can Make You Happy

If you have never traveled before but are thinking of doing so then

Scottish Islands: The Best Places to Reside!

Scottish Islands: The Best Places to Reside!

So there are a few islands that can be found off the Sco

How to Plan a Multi-Destination Honeymoon During COVID

How to Plan a Multi-Destination Honeymoon During COVID

You need to know how to plan appropriately and

7 Tips for Amazing Campus Visits

7 Tips for Amazing Campus Visits

A campus visit's significance could not be overstated. After all, fo

4 Tips For Curating The Perfect Gallery Wall

4 Tips For Curating The Perfect Gallery Wall

Having a gallery wall brings plenty of benefits to your

Water Travel Options That Don’t Involve a Cruise

Water Travel Options That Don’t Involve a Cruise

There is something equally relaxing and invigorati

Photo by Erik Odiin on Unsplash

Things That Will Help Cost-Conscious Vacationers Save Money

There are several ways you can significan

Photo by Mikhail Nilov from Pexels

How to Make Vet Visits Affordable in 2022

If the situation is minor, you might be lucky and get away

Photo by Tim Samuel from Pexels

Know Your Florida Driving Rules

There is so much to do in the region, but we want to focus on some of

Photo by Ging Ang from Pexels

Holidaying in your own Country: Try these Fun Trips!

Many countries are opening their borders, but if

Photo by Jessica Lewis Creative from Pexels

The Best Tech Tools for Expats

Here’s a quick look at most versatile tech tools for expats on the m

Photo by Tobi from Pexels

How to Turn a Road Trip Into A Luxury Adventure

But a road trip doesn’t have to mean living on the

Australian Citizenship Test: Everything You Need to Know

Australian Citizenship Test: Everything You Need to Know

Do you want to become a citizen of Australia

Hair transplant Istanbul: Why is it so popular?

Hair Transplant Istanbul: Why is it so Popular?

Getting a hair transplant in Istanbul is affordable i

What’s Going on with Rental Cars Right Now?

What’s Going on with Rental Cars Right Now?

They are incredibly expensive, and they’re also in sh

Role of Professional companies in International Trade

Role of Professional companies in International Trade

International trade holds great importance in a

The 5 Best Wines from Germany

The 5 Best Wines from Germany

Riesling is Germany’s best-known wine, but the country makes other fi

Here's Why You Should Go Camping On Weekends

Here's Why You Should Go Camping On Weekends

There is nothing like the great outdoors –– natureâ€

The Best Tote Bags To Travel With in 2022

The Best Tote Bags To Travel With in 2022

Who knew you could pack your entire life away into one litt

7 Captivating Attractions for Kids in San Diego

7 Captivating Attractions for Kids in San Diego

San Diego is a magnificent place, and it would not be

travelers today

© 2023 TRAVELERS TODAY All rights reserved.

Subscribe to our newsletter
Real Time Analytics