Excitement as Bryde’s Whale Trio Spotted Near Bang Saen Beach

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

Tourists were left in awe as a mother Bryde’s whale and her two calves were spotted frolicking in the waters near Bang Saen Beach in Chonburi province. The rare sighting, captured in a video posted by Facebook user Eaksak Soemsri, shows the majestic whales chasing fish close to shore, accompanied by large flocks of seagulls swooping down to catch fish leaping out of the water to escape the whales.

The footage, credited to a local crab netting boat near Ang Sila, was widely. According to local reports, the sighting involved three whales: a mother, her older calf from the previous year and a newly born pink-coloured calf still riding on its mother’s back. Observers believe the mother was teaching her young how to “lunge feed”, a hunting technique used to catch fish.

Following the viral video, reporters visited the Bang Saen seafront and spoke to local beach operator Ms. Waree Nimthongplod 68, who said, “Whales do come to Bang Saen every year, usually in the winter. However, they are rarely seen this close to the beach, more often appearing near Laem Thaen. Still, they can sometimes be spotted from Bang Saen.”

Mr. Pinyoh Photikun 26, who operates a banana boat rental business, added, “Whales tend to gather near Laem Thaen because it’s calmer and there’s less boat traffic. It’s quite rare to see them this close. They’re beautiful animals, but it’s important not to approach them too closely, it could be dangerous.”

He also shared a whale-watching tip: “Look for areas where seagulls are circling. It usually means whales are feeding nearby. Many sightings come from reports by fishing boats further out at sea.”

Local seafood vendor and sea rescue volunteer Mr. Eaksak Soemsri, 48, who first shared the clip, said, “We were informed by fishing boats in the morning about the whales, and we took tourists out in the afternoon. Initially, we expected to see two, but then we spotted a third, a newborn calf, pink in colour, around 3 metres long.”

Officials from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources are expected to conduct a survey on 5 July, to create identification records and name the whales. According to Mr. Eaksak, the mother may be a well-known whale named “Paphan,” with a large male reportedly seen nearby around Koh Sichang. In total, 3–4 whales have been observed in the Bang Saen–Sriracha–Koh Sichang area in recent days.

He warned that whale-watching boats should keep a distance of 50–100 metres, as engine noise can disrupt feeding behaviour. With food sources increasing in Thai waters, whale sightings may also become more frequent. Irrawaddy dolphins and bottlenose dolphins have also been spotted around Khao Sam Muk recently.

One excited visitor, Mr. Anupap Kaewmahawong, 40, from Kamphaeng Phet, said, “I’ve heard stories of whales being spotted here, but I’ve never seen one in person, only dolphins. It’s thrilling to know they’re this close to our shores.”

The appearance of the Bryde’s whales has sparked renewed interest in marine conservation and eco-tourism in Chonburi, with locals hopeful that responsible tourism will allow more people to experience the majesty of Thailand’s marine life.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khoasod 2025-07-05