Tourism unaffected by shark attack rumour at Karon beach in Phuket

[webfact]

Tourism unaffected by shark attack rumour at Karon beach



PHUKET: -- Alleged shark attack at an Australian tourist swimming at Karon beach in Phuket Tuesday remained unclear with local people, life guards, and authorities believed it was likely to be a native aggressive fish that attacked her.

After an Australian female tourist has been hospitalized after being attacked by an unknown marine animal, many opinions have been voiced, and most ruled out shark but some other sea creature.

According to a life guard who was on duty at Karon beach at the time of the attack, the female tourist was swimming with her male companion approximately 50 meters from shore.

After a while she was seen being carried ashore by her male friend who shouted out for assistance.

The guard, Wira Phalikham, said he then ran to the victim and saw that the rear portion of her left leg was injured.

When asked, she stated that she thought that she had been bitten.

He immediately called an ambulance which took her to hospital.

He then closed off the beach forbidding swimmers from entering the water.

Howeve he said he didn’t believe she was attacked by a shark because in all his time here he has never come across even one of them.

Furthermore, locals who have lived here for more than 50 years also said that they have never ever heard of a shark attack here, he said.

Following the attack and subsequent closure of the beach, the head of the Karon Marine Safety Center Mr Suppachai Chanpet, along with officials from the Phuket City Hospital and officers and divers from the 3rd Region Naval Unit throughout the day organized underwater patrols but found nothing out of the ordinary.

Authorities said that the possibility is extremely remote as sharks have never been sighted in these waters.

Past sightings here have included dolphins and sea turtles but never sharks.

They speculated that the most likely culprit was either marlin or barracuda (commonly known as “Pla Sark” ) which local fishermen recognize as aggressive marine animal.

There was one report of a barracuda attack earlier in the year where a tourist was bitten in the neck but no shark attack has ever been reported, they said.

“Barracudas are commonly known by locals as “Pla Sark” fish and are found in Thailand’s waters as well as in the deep ocean. There are many types of barracudas some are black while others are yellow in color and they are ferocious animals. They are aggressive and are fearsome scavengers,” he said.

However, Dr Kongkiat Kittiwattana-wong, head of the Rare Marine Species Research Division of the Phuket Marine Biological Center contertered those claims, saying he confidently believed it was the attack by a small young bull-shark.

He said that there have been several reports of bull-sharks having been discovered along murky, tide swept shores in other parts of the world.

“I am more than 90% certain that it was a bull-shark attack. No other animal could have done this.”

But it remained unclear what animal attacked the Australian tourist, the incident seemed to have no impact on tourism at Karon beach with tourists still allowed to swim but closely watch by life guards.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/tourism-unaffected-by-shark-attack-rumour-at-karon-heach


-- Thai PBS 2015-09-03

[stevenl]

Strange. According to PW dr. Kongkiat said "I haven't heard of any shark attacks on Phuket and it seems unlikely they would suddenly appear,". Since PW is more reliable and his explanation makes more sense than 'bull shark', I very much doubt it is being reported correctly here.

[madmitch]

Tourism unaffected by...................................................

Please insert next week's event and see if you can beat the headline writers.

[NongKhaiKid]

A Thai shark would'nt... !

Oh forget it.

[Old Croc]

Authorities said that the possibility is extremely remote as sharks have never been sighted in these waters

Some off us remember this shark that was speared off Kata Beach a year ago!

[Kannikapor88]

No matter what might happen, tourism will be "unaffected" or "no effect" ... in rare cases like the bombing its "Short-term effect" ...

Could be interesting to hear if they actually believe their own retarded comments ...

[slapout]

Well if the life guard and local resdents of 50 years or more have never seen a shard much less a shard attack I am almost convienced its not a shard attack.

Discount shark ok but I think I will pass on going in the water in this area for a while. What ever it was must have been unpleasent for the lady bitten and she my forego swimming the area in the future, so i will follow suit. I really do not care what bite the lady, I will not give it a chance to munch on my leg or worse.

[ourmanflint]

It could have been a bull shark, but injuries would have been pretty serious if it was, ie chunks missing or leg hanging off. Reef sharks like one in photo are not aggressive or very dangerous and highly unlikely to ever bite anyone. Marlin? Are they serious? Barracuda, possible, but they tend to attack shiny objects that catch the sunlight, so wearing shiny jewellery when diving is silly if you know barracuda are around.

One other possibility would be a Titan Triggerfish protecting its nest, they can inflict serious bites but unlikely to cause fatal bites, have been bitten myself by one in Maldives and same happened, just bit back of my leg and bumped into me a few times scaring me away from nest. They are a pretty big fish and next on open sand near reefs.

[webfact]

Helicopter scours Phuket coast in shark hunt
Suthicha Sirirat


Officials began searching for sharks off the west coast of Phuket this morning (Sept 3).

PHUKET: -- A helicopter scoured the waters off Phuket’s west coast this morning (Sept 3) for any sharks in the area, while boats continued the search at sea level.

The search follows experts telling Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong yesterday that they were almost certain a bull shark was responsible for the attack on Australian tourist Jane Neame, 37, at Karon Beach on Monday (August 31). (See story here.)

“If it is a bull shark, like experts say, it would be dark grey in colour and officials will catch it and remove it from the area to protect tourists,” said Vice Governor Dr Pallop Singhasaenee.

“We have also contacted hotels and resorts to warn tourists and residents to be vigilant when playing on the beach and no one should swim alone,” he added.

The order to ramp up shark safety follows French shark documentary film-maker David Martin and Dr Kongkiat Kittiwatthanawong, Chief of the Marine Endangered Species Unit at the Phuket Marine Biology Centre (PMBC), meeting Governor Nisit yesterday (Sept 2).

“After examining the wound [on Ms Neame’s foot] I am 90-per-cent sure that the fish that bit Ms Jane is a baby bull shark, maybe 1-1.5 metres long,” Mr Martin told Gov Nisit.

“This type of fish is able to adapt to freshwater. We often find them near deltas and in the ocean this fish can come close to the beach, usually near cloudy water or waves.”

Mr Martin said that although shark attacks were rare, a baby bull shark remained his top choice as the most likely culprit to have bitten Ms Neame.

“Sharks are found all over the world. There are 480 species of them, but only three to four species will harm humans, and one of those is the bull shark,” he said.

The order to scour the seas off Phuket for a likely suspect shark also follows shark expert Tassapon Krajangdara, a specialist at the Phuket Coastal Fisheries Research and Development Centre, assuring in his professional opinion that the sea animal that seriously injured Ms Neame was not a shark.

Instead, he believes Ms Neame was bitten by a puffer fish or a trigger fish. (See story here.)

Mr Tassapon forwarded his report, which included his consultation with other Asean shark experts, to V/Gov Pallop only this morning.

Meanwhile, V/Gov Dr Pallop visited Ms Neame at Bangkok Hospital Phuket last night.

“Doctors said it will take at least six to seven months for her wound to heal,” he said.

“But Ms Neame is recovering well and she completely understands that this was an unforeseen incident and is very positive about the whole situation.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/helicopter-scours-phuket-coast-in-shark-hunt-53933.php


-- Phuket News 2015-09-03

[kannot]

Oh yes no shark attackes Junta or bombs will slow tourist form coming.................suspect the Thais will now go stupid shark hunting killing everything they see, about their mentality

[erobando]

I hope they round up all of these terror-sharks. I wouldn't surprised if these spiteful fish were the true masterminds behind the events of 20 August.

[fareastguy]

Purely for identification purposes:

1st pic is of a normal shark

2nd pic is of a type found to mostly frequent Thai beaches

[upena]

Jaws Thailand....No impact on tourism

[Bulldozer Dawn]

Is anyone flying around in a helicopter warning tourists not to drink 2 or 3 large bottles of beer and then going swimming?

Is anyone flying around in a helicopter warning tourists to be careful they are not killed or injured by a jetski, parasail rope or boat propellor?

Is anyone flying around in a helicopter warning tourists about the fecal coliform count at Patong and other west coast beaches?

Edited September 3, 2015 by Bulldozer Dawn

[little mary sunshine]

And, if it is a shark,....they were in

the Ocean long before the tourists!!!

[wabothai]

Lady bitten in her foot

next:

Tourism unaffected.

Thank God.

[waldroj]

Sharks are a fact of life (or death) for swimmers anywhere in the world!

The following link identifies species seen in Thai waters: http://www.orientalsea.com/bullshark.htm

Bull sharks have an especially nasty reputation around the warmer seas of world because of their ability to hunt in brackish and esturine waters as well as along coasts.

Time to call Jeremy Wade?

[impulse]

Picture of the wound would be handy. I'm recalling a "River Monsters" episode where the puffer fish was the perp: http://www.tvruckus.com/2015/04/13/river-monsters-recap-tiny-puffer-fish-flesh-eating-terror-of-cambodias-mekong-river/

(I hope the poor lady didn't lose a testicle like in the TV show...)

Also, this: http://www.grindtv.com/wildlife/puffer-fish-bites-boy-in-rare-attack-off-maui-then-goes-after-his-mother/

[b4n9]

call him immediately!

[elgordo38]

Lady bitten in her foot

next:

Tourism unaffected.

Thank God.

Its a bird its a plane no its Super Tourist. Wonder what his uniform looks like?

[DrTuner]

Even if it was a real-life remake of Sharks in the Plane, TAT would announce 100% increase. Not even an asteroid strike wiping the life off the face of the planet will get those figures down.

[Lupatria]

Don't we all know already, no matter what (coups, popcorn shooter, bombs, tsunami, corruption, random urine tests, Koh Tao etc. etc.) can ever have an effect on Thai tourism. Any decrease of tourist arrivals is always caused by other nations. As the victim is Australian she probably brought the shark as a pet in her luggage.

[springheeled jack]

another cloud of indecision is it or isn't it a shark it might be a barracuda or another aggressive fish ,sharks don't come this far but as one learned fellow said it could be a young bull shark?

[Tywais]

Picture of the wound would be handy. I'm recalling a "River Monsters" episode where the puffer fish was the perp: http://www.tvruckus.com/2015/04/13/river-monsters-recap-tiny-puffer-fish-flesh-eating-terror-of-cambodias-mekong-river/

Previous topic here with photo and all the detective work already done, including my surgeonfish possibility. - http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/852827-phuket-experts-baffled-by-aussie-tourist-mystery-fish-bite/

[impulse]

Picture of the wound would be handy. I'm recalling a "River Monsters" episode where the puffer fish was the perp: http://www.tvruckus.com/2015/04/13/river-monsters-recap-tiny-puffer-fish-flesh-eating-terror-of-cambodias-mekong-river/

Previous topic here with photo and all the detective work already done, including my surgeonfish possibility. - http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/852827-phuket-experts-baffled-by-aussie-tourist-mystery-fish-bite/

Thanks. Now, do you have a link so I can un-see it? Pretty please?

[nakhonandy]

“After examining the wound [on Ms Neame’s foot] I am 90-per-cent sure that the fish that bit Ms Jane is a baby bull shark, maybe 1-1.5 metres long,” Mr Martin told Gov Nisit.

What a moron, I have seen Bull sharks in the sea whilst diving.

Trust me a 1 - 1.5m Bull would have a much bigger bite than that.

[1110]

From the look of the shape it looks like a bite from a big Puffer fish

[SOTIRIOS]

......God forbid we say anything to affect their bottom line.....

[csabo]

I saw a shark in Phuket last week. He was laying on a makeshift table next to the other catches of the day at the Rawai fish market.

[dragonballs]

the sharks are on the beach, jetksi & police