Bryde’s whales spotted in Krabi

SURAT THANI, Jan 31 (TNA) - A Bryde’s whale mother and a young calf were spotted at Mu Ko Ang Thong national park in Surat Thani They surfaced off water near a tourist boat, travelling from Samui Island to Mu Ko Ang Thong national park. Kraiwut Suksom, the owner of the boat tour company said whale sharks and dolphins are often seen off Ang Thong Islands but the sighting of Bryde’s whale is rare. It indicates that the sea here is abundance in natural resource. The rarely seen Bryde’s whale could be found again before the gulf is closed in February. Tourist boat operators are asked not to go too close to the whale and to take photos from a far distance. The Fisheries Department will announce the annual closure of the Gulf of Thailand for three months from February 15 to May 15 during spawning season. All kinds of fisheries are banned in Mu Ko Ang Thong, so the area is abundance in marine life and is the habitat of varieties of sea animals. Meanwhile, in Krabi, a boat operator took photos of a six – metre long whale shark near his boat in water off Phang-nga Bay while taking tourists from Phang Nga to Phi Phi island yesterday afternoon. Pongphan Theprak, the boat operator said he often spotted whale shark here. There are about six of them. Head of the Than Bok Khorani National Park, Weerasak Srisatjang said that park officials have monitored and conducted survey to keep record of the whale shark sighting. Rare species are often seen off Phang-nga Bay. The authorities will ask for cooperation from tour operators and tourists to help save the environment. (TNA)