Bryde's whales spotted off Phetburi coast

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Bryde's whales spotted off Phetburi coast



PHETBURI: -- A pod of more than 10 Bryde’s whales were spotted Monday off Phetburi coast in the Gulf of Thailand, forcing local fishing boats to stop fishing and turn into tour boats to ferry tourists to have close encounter of the sea mammals.

The rare Bryde’s whales were seen enjoying themselves hunting for food near the coast in several tambon of Ban Laem district of Phetburi province.

The appearance of the Bryde’s whales prompted the Hat Chao Samran municipality mayor Boonyod Maklai to advise local fishermen to halt fishing and turn their boats to ferry tourists to see the whales as now most fishermen were suffering loss when few fishes were caught, and that they could hardly make ends meet.

He said normally Bryde’s whales will enter the Gulf of Thailand and come near Phetburi coast during September to March.

But this year more whales come, he said and urged tourists to visit Phetburi before they returned to deep sea.

A Bryde’s whale is approximately 13.7 meters to 14.5 meters long and weighs about 17 tonnes. In 2012, it was estimated that only 20 remained in the Gulf of Thailand.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/brydes-whales-spotted-phetburi-coast/


-- Thai PBS 2014-10-21

[Dibbler]

Not exactly news. The pod is resident in the gulf and at least one ecotour company WildWatch Thailand has organized trips by boat out there to see the whales every weekend for some time now. The whales are really impressive, exhibit all kinds of behaviour, and sometimes come very close to the boat. Went out there a few weekends ago to see them. The boat was full of Bangkok Thais very encouraging to see so many nature lovers.

[PiPiFFS]

I was diving in Koh Tao a while back and a large pod of these whales cruised past. Very surprised and delighted

[Qauvorka]

Wow didn't know they grow that big saw a dead one on khao Takiab beach 3 months ago

[khaowong1]

I'm surprised they haven't been hunted down..