[ti:Thailand Celebrates King's Birthday by Releasing 1,066 Turtles] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.20]Hundreds of people gathered at a beach in Thailand on Wednesday [00:06.20]to release 1,066 turtles into the sea. [00:12.16]The event was one of many around the country [00:16.44]celebrating the birthday of Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn. [00:24.36]The number 1,066 represents two important numbers for the king: 10 and 66. [00:34.56]The king is commonly known as King Rama X – the "X" meaning "10." [00:43.76]And, he will be 65 years old on July 28. [00:50.72]The number 66 is one more than his age, to wish him long life. [00:58.57]The large crowd, including members of the Royal Thai Navy and students, [01:05.72]released the turtles at the Sea Turtle Conservation Centre in Chonburi. [01:13.24]Athichanan Srisevok is a Thai actress and supporter of Thailand's conservation efforts. [01:22.36]She said, in Thailand, turtles represent long life. [01:28.28]With the release, she wished the king good health and long life. [01:34.80]The turtles released on Wednesday were raised from eggs [01:39.52]collected by the navy from nearby Koh Kram island. [01:45.88]Some of the turtles were as young as one week old. [01:50.92]Thai Buddhists believe that releasing animals from capture [01:56.56]is also one way of gaining good karma. [02:01.72]They believe that a person's actions decide their karma, [02:06.48]or how their next life will be. [02:10.06]The birthday celebrations are expected to include ceremonies [02:15.96]at Buddhist holy places across Thailand. [02:20.80]That includes an alms-giving event for more than 600 Buddhist monks [02:28.08]in the capital city of Bangkok. [02:31.05]Alms-giving is the practice of giving money or food to poor people. [02:39.00]Rama X became king in December, following the death of his highly respected father, [02:46.52]King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in October. [02:51.04]I'm Alice Bryant. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM