Don’t disturb protected whales, tourists warned
BANGKOK: Thailand’s Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa has warned jet ski tourists of serious consequences if they are found to disrupt the existence of the rare and protected Bryde’s whales off Phetchaburi province in western Thailand, off the coastline near the Gulf of Thailand.
Yesterday’s warning followed reports of tourists on about 20 jet ski boats tearing through the gulf with high speeds and loud noise in search of the whales over the weekend.
The group provoked outrage among local residents.
Meanwhile, Varawut assigned the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources to enhance environmental awareness in the area where Bryde’s whales frequently appear.
The Bryde’s whales that arrive to feed along the Phetchaburi coast during the months of October and November are of valuable gifts from nature, so tourists are expected to follow the rules or face legal consequences, the minister said.
A Bryde’s whale calf was spotted just 300m off the coastline near the Gulf of Thailand last weekend. It was about three metres long and weighed around 300kg.
The baby whale surfaced close to a fishing boat to feed on squid and plankton.
Bryde’s whales were added to Thailand’s list of 19 protected species two years ago along with the Omura’s whale, whale shark and leatherback turtle.
Marine officials believe there are only 65 of them remaining in the gulf as of last month.
Varawut praised strict measures to protect whale sharks off Cebu in the Philippines, where motored boats are banned from nearing the whale sharks.
Authorities in Cebu have also banned tourists from applying sunscreen to prevent seawater contamination and Thailand might need to come up with this sort of measures in the future, Varawut said.