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Ko Man Nai

Ko Man Nai

is the largest island in the Muko Man archipelago and the second largest next to Ko Samet, covering an area of approximately 131 rai. It islocated nearest to the shore, some 5 km. from Laem Mae Phim, and takes about 30 minutes to get there. Tourists can visit the Sea Turtle Conservation Centre, which is situated on Ko Man Nai, walk around the island for a nature study, enjoy swimming, or dive to see corals, but are not allowed to stay overnight. Ko Man Nai is the location of the Marine and Coastal Resources Research and Development Centre the Eastern Gulf of Thailand, Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, under the royal initiatives of H.M. Queen Sirikit out of her royal concern that sea turtles were facing extinction and their natural breeding grounds were becoming rare to be found. In 1979, Her Majesty dedicated Ko Man Nai, which was her personal property, to the Royal Thai Navy to establish the “Gulf of Thailand Sea Turtle Conservation Programme”, otherwise known as “Her Majesty’s Sea Turtle Conservation Programme”, with an objective to be a centre for the conservation, breeding, and reproduction of sea turtles. The Queen also presented green turtles and hawksbill turtles for breeding and reproduction. In 2002, the Programme was renamed as the “Marine and Coastal Resources Research and Development Centre the Eastern Gulf of Thailand” and supervised by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The Conservation Centre is located in the northern part of the island and features a Sea Turtle Museum Building where there is an exhibition on the life, habitat, and way of living of sea turtles, specimens of stuffed sea turtles; such as, large leatherback turtles found in the nearby areas and around the island. There is a hatchery, parent breeders’ tanks, medical centre for various kinds of sea turtles like Olive Ridley turtle, Hawksbill turtle, and green turtle, and sterile tanks for a turtle nursery.