Another dolphin found dead; villagers point finger at hunters

[Lite Beer]

Another dolphin found dead; villagers point finger at hunters
Krisana Thiwatsirikul
The Sunday

Local residents look at the corpse of another pink dolphin that was washed ashore in Nakhon Si Thammarat

BANGKOK: -- Another dead pink dolphin was found washed up on a beach in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Pak Phanang district yesterday. While coastal villagers revealed that a hunting group from outside had used pair trawls to hunt dolphins in the area, as the animals could yield up to Bt100,000 if sold to an aquarium.

The two-metre-long female dolphin carcass, weighing 200kg, was found in Tambon Pak Phanang Tawan-ok and possibly had been dead for five days. It was the second case in three days after the death of a dolphin in Sichon district, which was presumed to have been caused by the fish swallowing globules of oil following the oil spill at Si Chon beach on November 19.

Villager Aporn Charoenpol, 53, who found the dolphin's carcass in Pak Phanang, said several varieties of dolphins lived in the area. Some outside hunters, who used pair trawls to fish in the Ao Phanang area, also caught live dolphins to sell elsewhere.

Another fisherman, who did not want to be named, said the pair trawls were possibly from Samut Prakan or nearby provinces because he had heard them talking in the Central Thai dialect. "These people came in 20 pair trawls to fish at Ao Phanang without fear of law. They also took dolphins - along with other marine lives - in a large tank with oxygen," he added.

A scientist, who asked not to be named, concurred with the villagers' testimony that dolphin hunters were real and mostly used large fishing boats with heavy tools. He said the group caught fish as per normal but also took dolphins, caught in the net, and kept them in a large tank. The dolphins would be sold mid-sea at a six-digit price for a whole and healthy dolphin, he said. He added that dolphins from the Gulf of Thailand were sold to aquariums in Asean countries, especially those that had dolphin shows.

"Fishermen spotting the group should try to record images as evidence but should stay far because the group could be hostile," the scientist warned, urging the Fisheries Department and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources to implement measures to protect these animals.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Another-dolphin-found-dead;-villagers-point-finger-30248366.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-23

[shirtless]

There could be many reasons for these deaths we will never be told the truth,

[Beng]

Seems those oil spills are affecting more and more beaches in the gulf. Another blow for marine life and tourism. It's really getting worse over the past ten years.

Edited November 23, 2014 by Beng

[seajae]

nothing new here, if it can be sold it will, being protected means nothing when it comes to money

[hughben]

The scumbags who steal dolphins from their pods are lower than whale shit.

They should be publically flogged.

The middle men are just as bad, the 'aquariums' that buy them should be closed and the people who visit those 'shows' are complete utter selfish imbeciles.

Edited November 23, 2014 by hughben

[Mudcrab]

villagers point finger at hunters

Then lick fingers after cooking chips and a few Chang to wash it down.

[bangrak]

Seems those oil spills are affecting more and more beaches in the gulf. Another blow for marine life and tourism. It's really getting worse over the past ten years.

What 'oil spill' here? What makes you spread such untrue information? Dolphin hunters, didn't you read, or didn't you want to understand? Get a life!

[DefaultName]

I was horrified the first time I saw dolphin on the menu in a seafood restaurant in Pattaya. The waiter explained that it was a fish called a dolphin fish (dunno why) but that, if I wanted, he could get real dolphin for tomorrow.

I declined of course, but it just shows the regard that Thai's have for their wildlife. If they can eat it, or if there's a market for it, there will be a Thai willing to catch or kill it.

[Changoverandout]

Seems those oil spills are affecting more and more beaches in the gulf. Another blow for marine life and tourism. It's really getting worse over the past ten years.

What 'oil spill' here? What makes you spread such untrue information? Dolphin hunters, didn't you read, or didn't you want to understand? Get a life!

From the OP

''It was the second case in three days after the death of a dolphin in Sichon district, which was presumed to have been caused by the fish swallowing globules of oil following the oil spill at Si Chon beach on November 19.''

Unfortunately they didn't get a life

[Chicog]

The scumbags who steal dolphins from their pods are lower than whale shit.

They should be publically flogged.

The middle men are just as bad, the 'aquariums' that buy them should be closed and the people who visit those 'shows' are complete utter selfish imbeciles.

A well-placed torpedo would have the desired effect.

[atyclb]

anyone know if the fukushima radiation could be involved?

[anon022]

One day humanity will choke on the dust of its own regret!