Survey spots three more Bryde’s whales in Thai waters

BANGKOK: The population of Bryde’s whales in the upper Gulf of Thailand has risen by three, according to last month’s annual survey by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.

The department surveyed coastal areas of Chachoengsao, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Phetchaburi, and Bangkok provinces from Nov 27-30, recording sightings of marine wildlife in the upper Gulf.

On Thursday (Nov 30) it announced that nine Bryde’s whales had been found swimming in the upper Gulf during the latest survey.

Six of the whales had previously been recorded in Thai waters and were already logged in the department’s database, but three are newcomers.

The six known whales are logged under the names Sakhon and her calf Salee, Kanya and her calf Mali, Meesub and Singha.

The department’s veterinarians said the whales appear to be in good general health.

However, Sakhon and Meesub appeared to have developed tattoo skin disease (TSD), while Salee and a new whale have flesh wounds on their back fins caused by rope cuts, indicating they may have been caught in fishing gear.

Bryde’s whales are often spotted frolicking in waters 10-15km off the coast of Samut Sakhon and Phetchaburi. - The Nation/ANN