The beautifully spotless Nathai Beach was the spectacular setting for Aleenta Resort & Spa’s third annual charity dinner and auction held in aid of the Aleenta Sea Turtle Fund. Hotel guests and members of the team at Aleenta raised an impressive 200,000 baht at the live auction, which was conducted during an elegant candlelit meal.
The money raised will be donated to the turtle sanctuary managed by Phang Nga Coastal Fisheries Research and Development Center in Thai Muang. Located a scenic 20 minutes drive north of Aleenta Phuket-Phangnga, the turtle sanctuary is close to a critical nesting area for marine turtles.
Part of the donation has been allocated to buy a state-of-the-art GPS tracking device, which will be mounted onto the back of an adult leatherback turtle and followed by Mr.Kongiat and his team at the Marine Biological Center, Cape Panwa Phuket. The GPS will enable the researchers to gather crucial information about the turtle’s habitat and behavior in the wild.
Marine turtles are among the oldest creatures to inhabit the planet; evidence suggests they date back over 150 million years ago to pre-dinosaur times. However, the turtles’ future existence is severely threatened by over-development and fishing: the leatherback turtle, which is the world’s largest living reptile has been listed as globally endangered since 1970 and was confirmed as critically endangered in Thailand in 1996. Thailand is lucky to be home to four species of marine turtles: the leatherback, the olive ridley, the hawksbill and the green turtle.
Aleenta Phuket | Phang Nga has been a dedicated supporter of the turtle foundation since the hotel opened in 2006 and protecting the turtles is part of the hotel’s ongoing commitment to the environment. Upon arrival, guests are taught about the project and are invited to visit the sanctuary, where they can enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime experience of spending time with these magnificent creatures. Aleenta also sponsors the sanctuary by matching guests’ donations with 40 baht per night from its own funds.
