ไทย
From the case on January 6, 2024, Assoc. Prof. Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a marine and environmental expert, posted on Facebook that there is a report of the first sighting of a white whale shark in Thailand, along with details of the discovery in the area of Phuket Island, as previously reported.
On January 7, 2024, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Region 10, Mr. Wissanu Jangjai, the director of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Region 10, along with Dr. Kongkiat Kittiwatthanawong, an expert in marine and environmental resource research in the marine and coastal environmental system, together with officers from the Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center and the Upper Andaman Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center, conducted a joint survey and data collection in case there are reports of finding Omura’s whale shark (Balaenoptera omurai, Albeno) on January 1, 2024, using three survey methods, including:
1.Boat survey, using the Distance Transect Sampling method, using the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources’ 805 vessel (Pa Ka Rang) and the inspection boat of Hat Nopparat Thara National Park, the 38-foot inspection boat (PP 18) surveying from the lower part of Phang Nga Bay to the southern part of Racha Noi Island, covering an area of 400 square kilometers.
2.Aerial survey using unmanned aerial vehicles around Racha Yai Island within an 8-kilometer radius.
3.Monitoring and inquiring about findings from the tourism sector and fishing boats. In addition, there has been public relations to recommend best practices for the safety of Omura’s whale shark.
The results of the operation found one Omura’s whale shark with normal color characteristics, approximately 9 meters long, exhibiting relatively fast swimming behavior to find food. However, no white Omura’s whale shark was found. There was relatively strong wind and rough waves during the operation, but no violations or actions endangering marine and coastal resources were observed along the survey routes.
News and photos: Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Region 10
