Visiting Thailand - Shark attack is the least of your worries!

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Visitors to Thailand have been told not to worry about sharks.

 

You've got more chance to be run down by a charging buffalo!

 

Or die from being stung by a hornet!

 

In fact it's 200 million to one that you would suffer the fate of the Norwegian man who had his leg bitten by a shark on Monday.

 

You're much more likely to win the lottery.

 

And besides - Thais have eaten all the big ones!

 

All these messages of encouragement to visit Thailand came from a Thai Rath interview with a man in the know - Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat of the faculty of fisheries at Bangkok's Kasetsart University.

 

 

 

Dr Thon's message was loud and clear - don't worry about sharks...there are far worse things to concern you.

 

And he didn't even mention the roads....

 

He was talking Tuesday in an online video that came with the headline: "A sea that doesn't have sharks is like a jungle without tigers".

 

"The chance of being bitten by a shark is one in a hundred million to one in two hundred million," said Dr Thon.

 

"They can misunderstand thinking your foot is a fish and have a nibble. Then they realize - that's not a fish and off they swim".

 

Dr Thon gave his message of hope dressed in an outfit adorned with sharks.

 

He continued: "Each year there are 5-6 deaths from sharks all over the world. Compare that to being hit by a buffalo or a cow (there are many). Some 500 die from hippo attacks and 2,000 from bees and hornets".

 

Besides, he said there are only small sharks here - Thais have eaten all the big ones!

 

"Thais, like all people, have watched too many movies about sharks. They think that if there is a little blood the sharks will be on the scene, circling. No! That's the movies.

 

"Billions go in the sea to swin and there are hardly any bites - there is much less chance than winning the lottery".

 

The Department of Coastal resources agreed.

 

They told Daily News that apart from taking some sensible precautions in Hua Hin to guard against shark bites they were not planning to go after the creatures because one man had his leg bitten.

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-04-18

Each day 60 people get killed on the Thai roads....so yes this man is right, there are far bigger dangers in Thailand.

Should be more afraid of Thai drivers and Riders .

Deadly at best !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Can you imagine if they made half as much fuss over the things that are fatal? 

He is right though that people shouldn't worry about getting bitten by a shark.

They should worry about being robbed, ripped off, set up, run over, stabbed, shot or battered by a mob far more.

I suspect the odds of any of that happening are somewhat lower than 1 in 100,000,000.

Plenty sharks are all around when you're in Thailand and i'm not referring to the ones in the seas, from the tricksters, scammers, overcharging public transports and shopkeepers to the downright petty criminals and let's not forget those charming ladyboys out there, and Oh yeah, the police in Thailand aren't your friend either...

Much more dangerous to swim in Pattaya where even sharks don't dare to go.

6 minutes ago, Jimbo in Thailand said:

Much more dangerous to swim in Pattaya where even sharks don't dare to go.

Yes, disgusting waters there. 

I wouldn't worry so much about the bite itself as I would worry about the odds of it getting infected in the sewage laden water, or getting creamed on the roads on the way to the hospital.

 

I would worry more about the two legged sharks behind the wheels..

 

Wonder how long and what's top of Dr Thon's list of concerns, and has involuntary suicide made his top ten as it has mine. 

Not just Hua Hin, spotted  on north beach Cha am last Saturday.

Roads are definitely my biggest concern, having lived here for ten years. As for the rest, I can make a choice to take a risk or not, as the case may be, but when I travel on the roads I'm in the hands of God.

Some posts containing offensive generalizations toward Thais have been removed. 

45 minutes ago, metisdead said:

Some posts containing offensive generalizations toward Thais have been removed. 

With a topic like "Visiting-Thailand-shark-attack-is the-least-of your-worries"     what did you expect?

This is an invitation to Thai-bashing.....

5 hours ago, webfact said:

... not planning to go after the creatures because one man had his leg bitten.

 

That's really a relief. It's not the animals' fault.

I blame the Norwegian, its all his fault. You are what you eat and Norwegians do like their fish, ergo the shark was only taking a bite out of what he smelt as fish. 

And there are so many sick buffalos, the owners' daughters are particular dangerous

Ladyboys, cabbies, taxi drivers, girls with sickly water buffaloes, bus and lorry drivers, jet ski and motorcycle rental companies, jewelry shops, airport taxi, double pricing,  the list is very long...

 

Just now, Deli said:

And there are so many sick buffalos, the owners' daughters are particular dangerous

Seriously ? Surely in these modern times the sick buffalo has been replaced by something more in keeping with the modern era...."I only have a Samsung J1", "my motorcycle has been stolen", "I have been robbed of all my worldly goods", "I owe money to the mafia", etc etc..... The sharks are still out there, the problem is everyone wants to be nibbled, they just don't want to be bitten.

24 minutes ago, JOC said:

With a topic like "Visiting-Thailand-shark-attack-is the-least-of your-worries"     what did you expect?

This is an invitation to Thai-bashing.....

 

Unfortunately, the topic headings seem to be going down this path more and more often recently.

5 hours ago, ThreeEyedRaven said:

Can you imagine if they made half as much fuss over the things that are fatal? 

He is right though that people shouldn't worry about getting bitten by a shark.

They should worry about being robbed, ripped off, set up, run over, stabbed, shot or battered by a mob far more.

I suspect the odds of any of that happening are somewhat lower than 1 in 100,000,000.

I' m amazed so many on here still manage to live in Thailand given what you erroneously believe..

The only time I have felt remotely uncomfortable in thailand us when in the presence of expat and tourist brits. Most are fine but a significant are nothing short of thugs too old to go to spain, cyprus etc and or cant get a woman back in old Blighty. 

Not to mention it is much cheaper to leave.

Most medium to large british cities/ towns are war zones on weekend evenings and nights.

However I ( unlike many on here ) wont be so rude and disrespectful to suggest that because drunkeness and violence are rife in the uk that all brits are drunkards and thugs.

My view is that there is good and bad everywhere.

I certainly wouldnt be so rude as to move to another country and then spend my time bagging and criticising that country that has so graciously and kindly allowed me to live there.

Perhaps it is only news because of it's unlikeliness.......  Man bites dog , etc....

 

PS at least the Thais probably eat the whole thing.  The Chinese practice "trim and release" (to die by drowning) through lack of locomotional appendages.   A bit like "wound and release" deer hunting and not a lot at all like "catch and release" trout fishing

59 minutes ago, Expatthailover said:

I' m amazed so many on here still manage to live in Thailand given what you erroneously believe..

The only time I have felt remotely uncomfortable in thailand us when in the presence of expat and tourist brits. Most are fine but a significant are nothing short of thugs too old to go to spain, cyprus etc and or cant get a woman back in old Blighty. 

Not to mention it is much cheaper to leave.

Most medium to large british cities/ towns are war zones on weekend evenings and nights.

However I ( unlike many on here ) wont be so rude and disrespectful to suggest that because drunkeness and violence are rife in the uk that all brits are drunkards and thugs.

My view is that there is good and bad everywhere.

I certainly wouldnt be so rude as to move to another country and then spend my time bagging and criticising that country that has so graciously and kindly allowed me to live there.

I dont understand why you are even a Member here, there are bound to be far more negative posts in here re Thailand than positive, and yet day after day you come in here bleating about Members who dont feel the same as you do about this country, getting all upset about it, you are virtually a lone voice in here, the fact that Thais can do no wrong in your eyes is nieve beyond belief!  there are people in here that have been beaten up by Mobs of cowardly Thais, been mugged, Robbed, scammed,Family Members, Loved ones killed in Road Accidents by Drunken Bonehead Thais and yet you come in here constantly tarring all Brits with the same Brush, and i know for a fact that you are British yourself! you should be ashamed of yourself, Go somewhere else or find another Corner to Cry in.

Yes, there are Sharks in the Siam Sea....what else.

No one mentioned getting attacked by soi dogs ? 

3 hours ago, nausea said:

Roads are definitely my biggest concern, having lived here for ten years. As for the rest, I can make a choice to take a risk or not, as the case may be, but when I travel on the roads I'm in the hands of God.

No,you’re in the hands of a drunk/methed up/ irresponsible  Thai driver.

The interview is just hilarious! Funniest thing I've listened to in ages!!! All so true too, except that maybe he needs to take care of her ever visits the southern shores of Australia & meets a white pointer! The Thais haven't eaten all of those! Not yet at least!

1 hour ago, Acemaker said:

I dont understand why you are even a Member here, there are bound to be far more negative posts in here re Thailand than positive, and yet day after day you come in here bleating about Members who dont feel the same as you do about this country, getting all upset about it, you are virtually a lone voice in here, the fact that Thais can do no wrong in your eyes is nieve beyond belief!  there are people in here that have been beaten up by Mobs of cowardly Thais, been mugged, Robbed, scammed,Family Members, Loved ones killed in Road Accidents by Drunken Bonehead Thais and yet you come in here constantly tarring all Brits with the same Brush, and i know for a fact that you are British yourself! you should be ashamed of yourself, Go somewhere else or find another Corner to Cry in.

Finally a well written non Thai bashing post, and no, not a lone voice at all... And you kill it with senseless rubbish about "mobs, boneheads" etc... ? Lol.

Maybe You should be the one to be ashamed of yourself, and go cry somewhere else

8 hours ago, ezzra said:

Plenty sharks are all around when you're in Thailand and i'm not referring to the ones in the seas, from the tricksters, scammers, overcharging public transports and shopkeepers to the downright petty criminals and let's not forget those charming ladyboys out there, and Oh yeah, the police in Thailand aren't your friend either...

The Two legged sharks will bite you more than any of the ones swimming in the sea... 

And more frequently... 

No, most of them are "sick".