A rare Bryde’s whale and its young were discovered earlier this week in Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park in Surat Thani province, and another was spotted close on Friday (3 Feb).
Officials reported seeing two Bryde’s whales foraging southeast of Ko Nai Phut in the national marine park on February 1, with a third seen on February 3. The two whales were identified as “Mae Wan Dee” and her calf “Jao Wanrung” by photo identification from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, while officials were unable to identify the third whale that visited the region.
Forestry Specialist Sathit Tantikrittaya, head chief of the Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park, reported that previous to the epidemic, an average of 1-2 Bryde’s whales were observed in the region each year. However, administrators decided to shut the national park’s tourism attractions and housing between 2020 and 2021. This allowed the area’s natural system to recover in a sustainable way, resulting in greater sightings of these endangered whales and other marine animals in the national park.
It was claimed that four Bryde’s whales visited the region in 2021, while six were observed in the park in the beginning of last year. The park head has directed personnel to keep an eye on the whales and guarantee their safety.
