Rare whale shark spotted off Thai coast

PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN, Aug 6 (TNA) – A six-meter-long whale shark was spotted off the coast of a resort island in the Thai seaside province of Prachuap Khiri Khan as tourists were warned to stay away from the rare creature. Wan Chatree, director of the Marine and Coastal Resources Protection center in Prachuap Khiri Khan, said a local tour operator recently found the large whale shark swimming past its boat just eight kilometers off the coast of Koh Talu in Bang Saphan district. He added that the whale shark could be the one that had frequently been spotted by tourists since May when it was swimming in the rich ecological area between Prachuap Khiri Khan and Chumphon provinces. The center has instructed all local tour operators to organize snorkeling activities in the area with caution, limit the number of people when a whale shark appears at their snorkeling locations, and provide customers with knowledge and instructions. The director said the snorkelers should neither stay too close nor pose for pictures with the whale shark even though it is normally not aggressive toward people. Thailand’s Department of Marine and Coastal Department is planning to designate whale sharks, the world’s largest fish, as the country’s 18th reserved animal in order to protect such an endangered creature. (TNA)