Won’t

Won’t is another sub-adult hawksbill observed around the north coast of Similan Island 9, and one of 12 unique turtles identified at Three Trees during the first Andaman Turtle Watch season. The name was a joint effort between Ciara and Boots, chosen as a tongue-in-cheek counterpart to the Similan celebrity Will – a turtle named earlier in the season after Big Blue’s own Will Nesset. While we don’t know if Will and Won’t will ever be spotted together, the pairing brings plenty of laughs among the Big Blue team, and a much-needed smile for Eve when entering data into the Andaman Turtle Watch database. The name also serves as a sly nod to Alex Rhodes, a Big Blue team member who has been very eager for a turtle to be named after him – but in an ongoing inside joke, the team just won’t give him one…

Won’t was observed crawling along the seabed around the reef at Three Trees, foraging as she moved slowly across the substrate. Her carapace showed some sand coverage, possibly linked to past behaviours, and unlike many turtles in the area, she did not have a heavy covering of algae. These subtle details may provide insights into her biology, behaviour, and daily energy expenditure. With every encounter, Big Blue is capturing more of these small but significant moments – building a clearer picture of hawksbill turtle life in the Similans, and supporting Andaman Turtle Watch’s mission and conservation measures across the region.