PHUKET: A giant whale has been washed up on a beach north of Phuket, becoming an instant attraction for sightseers and scientists.
The whale is seven metres long and weighs about two tonnes.
Phuket marine biologists will head tomorrow to Bangsak beach in Phang Nga, Phuket's neighboring province, to perform research.
It's not known at this stage which species of whale is involved but whales are regular passersby off Phuket and the Andaman Sea coast.
The local council near the township of Khao Lak has already decided to bury the whale on the beach, using a backhoe.
Marine biologists from the Phuket Marine Biological centre in eastern Phuket hope to examine the whale first to see if they can learn what killed it.
Dr Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong said tonight that he and other scientists would be keen to learn what they can before the whale is buried.
Marine creatures are forced ashore on the Andaman coast with wounds from fishing nets or in the case of some turtles especially, digestion problems from swallowed plastic bags or other manmade objects.
Phang Nga is more secluded and still home to turtles that once nested along Phuket's west coast.
But saving sick ot wounded creatures is not easy.
Biologists were hopeful about saving a seven-year-old dolphin that was washed up on Thai Muang beach in southern Phang Nga in late July.
The dolphin was suspended in a sling in the water at the Phuket Marine Biological Centre and given round-the-clock care.
Given the name Boonlod (Lucky Survivor) the dolphin was showing signs of a recovery, but it died on August 12.
The whale is seven metres long and weighs about two tonnes.
Phuket marine biologists will head tomorrow to Bangsak beach in Phang Nga, Phuket's neighboring province, to perform research.
It's not known at this stage which species of whale is involved but whales are regular passersby off Phuket and the Andaman Sea coast.
The local council near the township of Khao Lak has already decided to bury the whale on the beach, using a backhoe.
Marine biologists from the Phuket Marine Biological centre in eastern Phuket hope to examine the whale first to see if they can learn what killed it.
Dr Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong said tonight that he and other scientists would be keen to learn what they can before the whale is buried.
Marine creatures are forced ashore on the Andaman coast with wounds from fishing nets or in the case of some turtles especially, digestion problems from swallowed plastic bags or other manmade objects.
Phang Nga is more secluded and still home to turtles that once nested along Phuket's west coast.
But saving sick ot wounded creatures is not easy.
Biologists were hopeful about saving a seven-year-old dolphin that was washed up on Thai Muang beach in southern Phang Nga in late July.
The dolphin was suspended in a sling in the water at the Phuket Marine Biological Centre and given round-the-clock care.
Given the name Boonlod (Lucky Survivor) the dolphin was showing signs of a recovery, but it died on August 12.
I'm no marine biologist but it looks a lot like a Sperm whale to me.
I stand to be corrected.
Posted by Andrew on August 21, 2012 21:00
Editor Comment:
Mostly found in Soi Bangla?