Thailand: 'Good Luck' Turtle Which Swallowed 1,000 Coins Dies Of Blood Poisoning

By Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa BANGKOK, March 22 (Bernama) -- A female sea turtle nicknamed 'Omsin' ('piggy bank' in Thai), which received international media attention after swallowing almost 1,000 coins weighing five kilogrammes, has died of blood poisoning. The reptile's death at 10.10am (local time) Tuesday was announced by Nantarika Chansue, a veterinarian with Chulalongkorn University's aquatic research centre here. She was speaking to reporters who have been waiting for the latest update since news broke out on its deteriorating health, several days ago. Nantarika and her team have been taking care of the 25-year-old 'Omsin' since they performed a seven-hour surgery early this month to remove the coins lodged in her digestive tract. News on the turtle's surgery gained international media attention and efforts to nurse her back to health captivated readers of local newspapers, with Thais fervently hoping for its speedy recovery. Before gaining international status, 'Omsin' was kept in a pool in Chon Buri Province, where local people tossed coins for good luck (photoBERNAMA). -- BERNAMA