Phuket tour guide, Chinese tourists let off after coral stolen from reef

Eakkapop Thongtub

 

The two Chinese tourists were let off with a warning after they returned to Phuket from a day trip to Coral Island. Photo: Khanchit Klingklip

 

PHUKET: -- A pair of Chinese tourists and their tour guide have been let off with a warning after they were caught returning to Phuket from a day trip to Coral Island with corals stolen from a reef there.

 

Khanchit Klingklip, head of the local marine conservation group Healthy Reefs Club, reported the “catch and release” of the coral poachers yesterday (May 10).

 

“I was at Chalong Pier and saw two Chinese tourists carrying something bundled in a white cloth. I asked to see inside and found they were carrying specimens of massive coral and staghorn coral, and some shells,” he said.

 

“The guide who was taking care of the two Chinese tourists said they had just returned from Coral Island, but the guide said he did not know that the two tourists had taken corals and shells from the island,” he added.

 

“I warned both the guide and tourists, and asked the guide to put the corals back into the water at the end of the pier, Mr Khanchit said.

 

The removal of corals from Coral Island comes after marine experts have confirmed that mass tourism to Coral Island has killed 75% of the reefs there in the past 10 years.

 

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-tour-guide-chinese-tourists-let-off-after-coral-stolen-from-reef-62115.php

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2017-05-11

Nice pic of Batman and Robbing couple. But a coral pointing portrait would be so much nicer for their holiday memories.

Chinese are eating endangered animals to extinction,now they are starting

on the coral reefs.

regards worgeordie

amazing , bet the fish feeding woman feels gypt.

18 minutes ago, webfact said:

The removal of corals from Coral Island comes after marine experts have confirmed that mass tourism to Coral Island has killed 75% of the reefs there in the past 10 years.

 

 

Someday, they'll figure out you can have mass tourism and huge numbers, or you can have quality tourism and a sustainable resource that will keep drawing tourist $$$ for generations.

 

But it will be too late.  If it's not already.

6 minutes ago, sirmud63 said:

amazing , bet the fish feeding woman feels gypt.

They were only destroying the reef and not feeding the fish so no worries, carry on.

14 minutes ago, sirmud63 said:

amazing , bet the fish feeding woman feels gypt.

That fish feeding woman was working illegally, which was the real reason she was caught and fined.

 

I am disappointed in this coral case nothing is done.

More quality tourists destroying Thailand's natural heritage. It will stop when that heritage is pilfered and gone, as offenders are let off without penalty.  Tour guides should pay a fine or lose their license for failing to be responsible for their clients abiding by the marine park and fishing laws.  

Sending out the wrong message to all tourists who fancy a souvenir from Thailand.
Not even a token fine !!

Looking at the photo, the coral appears dead, bleached , and broken. What good will it do to their it back in the water at the end of the pier?

The tour guide should be fired and refrained from his job furtheron. He should instruct tourist before he finds out that they are doing wrong. Having Chinese in the tour groupe every giude shold know that he rather should extend instructions.