Tangmo

Tangmo is one of the most frequently reported turtles in the Similan Islands National Park, with 12 confirmed sightings submitted to Andaman Turtle Watch – almost always around Donald Duck Bay. Much like 0009 Will, she’s often spotted near tourist boats at the surface. Sadly, her natural foraging behaviour has been altered by unnatural feeding from tourist boats, with tourists and staff offering turtles food (such as watermelon, which inspired her name) for that “bucket list” photo.

Of all her sightings, Big Blue’s Will was the only observer to capture Tangmo swimming naturally and freely. In every other sighting, she was surrounded by snorkellers, tourists, and boats. Will’s submission was a beautiful reminder of how these turtles should be experienced – and a stark contrast to the usual Tangmo encounters.

During the 2024/25 Similan season, Tangmo’s story took a worrying turn. In November, she was photographed as a healthy green turtle, but by February she was resighted with three distinct propeller injuries across her carapace. Fortunately, these injuries were relatively minor and have since healed, but her close proximity to boats continues to put her at serious risk.

This is why Big Blue Diving fully supports Andaman Turtle Watch’s Code of Conduct for safe and respectful wildlife encounters, including the important rule of never feeding wild animals. By changing Tangmo’s natural behaviour, feeding has increased the time she spends near boats and propellers – directly endangering her survival.

Thanks to the ATW photo-ID database, citizen science sightings like these allow researchers to track the health and condition of individual turtles over time, recording injuries and recovery in real-world conditions. This data is valuable not just locally, but also to global turtle research efforts.

Tangmo’s resilience is inspiring, but her story is also a reminder: with responsible tourism practices, we can reduce threats and give turtles like her the best chance to thrive in the wild. Please help us protect them by following respectful wildlife guidelines during your time in the Similans.