A miracle as turtles return to Thailand’s empty beaches, closed due to virus outbreak
Popular beaches in southern Thailand, empty of tourists due to closures and restrictions related to the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, are seeing the return of rare wildlife, officials said on Sunday (April 19).
“As we fight the Covid-19 outbreak, nature is also rejuvenating and creating balance,” Warawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment said.
“In crisis, there is always opportunity.”
Thailand has imposed a nationwide curfew and beaches and public parks have also been ordered to close as the country struggles to curb the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.
Sopon Thongdee, Director-General of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, said on Friday that sea waters have become visibly cleaner and corals are growing back, due to the drastic decline in visitors since Thailand reported its first case of the virus in January.
