Colita เจ้าริสแบนด์

Colita เจ้าริสแบนด์ is one of the most well-known sea turtles in the Similan Islands National Park – a beautiful adult male green turtle with a long history in the region. Andaman Turtle Watch has a total of eight sightings of Colita, with the earliest record dating back to 2015. This means Colita has been visiting the Similan Islands for at least ten years, making him one of the longest-known residents in our catalogue so far.

But Colita is a remarkable individual for many reasons……..

Sightings and Possible Re-sighting Intervals

Colita has been documented on the following dates: 2015, 2019, 2022 and 2025. These sighting dates suggest a possible three- to four-year sighting interval, meaning that Colita may migrate elsewhere during these interval periods. However, this pattern can not yet be proven, more data is still needed before any long-term pattern can be confirmed. Andaman Turtle Watch will continue gathering photo-ID data to better understand site fidelity, seasonal presence, and movement cycles.

It is also noteworthy that ATW only began structured data collection in October 2024. There were no sightings of Colita during the 2024–2025 season, but the first new sighting occurred immediately at the start of the 2025–2026 season, shortly after the national park reopened. This could indicate a behavioural pattern – or it could simply reflect improved reporting thanks to the expanding citizen science network.

Movement Within the National Park

Colita has been sighted across a wide range of locations, from Hideaway Bay at Similan Island 5, to West of Eden at Similan Island 7, and up to Donald Duck Bay at Similan Island 8. These records indicate movement throughout the national park – valuable data that supports habitat mapping and the development of evidence-based conservation management strategies.

Behavioural Concerns

In almost all sightings, Colita has been observed swimming behind tourist boats – a clear sign of altered behaviour, most likely caused by illegal feeding of wild turtles in the national park. This is a worrying trend, as conditioning turtles to associate boats with food puts them at serious risk.

The Wristband Incident

Colita’s story reached national attention on 21st November 2025, when a video surfaced online showing a tourist feeding him a plastic wristband. The national park contacted Andaman Turtle Watch to: confirm the turtle’s identity in the facebook video through photo-ID; and verify that the correct turtle had been captured for veterinary assessment the following day.

You can read more about this incident in the Andaman Turtle Watch blog and inside the ATW community group. Colita is still at this point being cared for in the hospital in Phuket, for updated information please contact Andaman Turtle Watch.

Injuries

Colita also shows signs of a historic injury above his hind right flipper, likely caused by a boat propeller strike – another consequence linked to turtles approaching vessels due to food conditioning by tourist operators.

Why Colita Matters

Colita has become a powerful flagship example of:

✅ the consequences of irresponsible tourism
✅ the urgent need for better regulations and enforcement
✅ the importance of education, awareness and training for boat crews, snorkel guides and tour operators
✅ why citizen science matters in real-world conservation

Big Blue is proud to be working alongside Andaman Turtle Watch to raise standards in marine tourism, lead by example, and ensure that diving and snorkelling in the Andaman Sea is carried out safely, sustainably, and with conservation at the forefront.