THE sugar palms at Cape Promthep, symbols of Phuket, are being killed by weevils, officials have revealed to Phuketwan.

Desperate attempts are being made to saver the island's signature trees.

But the outlook is grim for the 80 year-old postcard landmarks. Once the weevils eat their leaves, their fate is sealed.

The president of Rawai Tessaban Arun Soros, said the existing trees were mostly dead or dying.

Former Governor Dr Preecha Ruangjan, who had a family New Year portrait taken at the cape, advised the Tessaban to fight the weevil scourge by growing replacement trees and replanting.

New Governor, Wichai Praisa-Ngob, has already expressed support for the project and is known to be an advocate of beautification schemes on the island.

RawaiTessaban hopes the Governor will provide a budget for saving or replacing the signature palms.

The cape, the romantic and rocky final stretch of Phuket's southernmost tip, is difficult to access.

Rawai Tessaban is now investigating how to execute the replanting without disturbing the postcard scene that becomes the backdrop for thousands of tourist photographs, especially at sunset.

Last night was typical, as our Photo Album shows. Thousands of tourists swarmed over the viewpoint area. The car park was packed to overflowing.

Khun Arun said the Tessaban was trying to find some other source for mature sugar palms, which grow to about 20 metres tall.

Efforts may also be made to kill the weevils on the surviving palms. For now, research is continuing, Khun Arun said.



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