More and more of our fellow citizens are turning their eyes to Asia as a place to relax. One of the most popular countries for tourists in this region is Thailand. And not only due to the multitude of cultural values, one of the cheapest shopping and the delights of sex tourism, but also the impeccable beaches. Recent reports of sharks in Thailand have not weakened the desire to visit this country. Let's try to separate the "flies from cutlets" in this matter. And at the same time, to figure out if there are sharks in Thailand and what is the likelihood of meeting them.
"Country of the free"
That is what the Thais call their homeland. One of the most visited countries in the south-eastern region of Asia has an area of about 514 thousand m2, beautiful tropical beaches on the shores of the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand of the South China Sea. This is a country of constitutional monarchy, with almost 33 thousand Buddhist temples and a population, where every 170 citizen is a strict monk. In equatorial waters, you can find the largest fish - a whale shark (body length - up to 10 meters, weight - up to 20 tons), and in the rainforest - the smallest mammal - a swine bat (body length - up to 3 centimeters, and weight - up to 2 grams).
Heaven on earth
Thanks to the tropical and subtropical climate, the tourism business here is year-round. Popular with tourists are:
- Bangkok is the local "city of angels", the capital of the country.
- The Pearl of the South Phuket is the most populated island in the south-west of the country.
- "Urban" type of recreation. Pattaya is a resort where life does not stop even at night.
- The quiet tropical island of Koh Samui - idyllic beauty and simplicity on the edge of the earth with white beaches and warm sea water of the Gulf of Thailand.
In any corner of the country, a tourist will meet Thai secrets and the understanding that the main thing is hidden inside: names, temples, sights. Nevertheless, the main direction of tourism in this country is the beach and sea direction. Scuba diving, diving and snorkeling in these tropical waters leave an unforgettable experience.
But what about sharks?
According to official statistics, sharks do not attack people in Thailand. And the Thais, when asked about the attacks of these predators, only smile. Nevertheless, the April 2018 reports of a shark attack on a tourist make fears of meeting them very relevant. Recall that in April 2018, the beach was closed for 20 days in the popular resort of Sai Noi (the city of Hua Hin). This happened after a shark attacked a tourist in Thailand. A tourist from Norway was bitten by a blunt or bull shark, in addition, there is evidence of about 30-40 similar individuals seen in coastal waters. It is assumed that these were young individuals (up to 1 year old) of medium size (up to 1 meter). In addition to closing the beaches, authorities notified tourists that in the area of the beach fence networks from predators will be installed.
Statistical data
In the last 2 years in Thailand, there have been several meetings with these predators, but all were on the open sea in the waters of the islands of Samui and Phuket. Why bull sharks ended up in the coastal area of Sai Noi beach remains a mystery to biologists.
An unconfirmed attack on Phuket was recorded in September 2015. An Australian diver away from the shore was bitten by the leg. That it was a shark was never officially confirmed.
General statistics of attacks by these predators is kept by the Museum of Natural History (Florida). According to this source for the period 1580-2017. only 1 fatal attack was recorded in Thailand (2000, about.Pangan). This is much less than in the Philippines, India and Indonesia.
Who lives in the waters of Thailand?
What sharks live in these waters? Recall that by the collective name “sharks” we mean about 526 species of fish of the superorder of cartilaginous, predatory and predominantly large ones, which have a torpedo-shaped body and jaw with many rows of pointed teeth. Only three species (whale, giant, longhorn) of this variety are not predators and just one such representative can be found in Thailand. The sharks found here are:
- Moderately aggressive predators - gray, leopard, black, tiger, several species of reef sharks. These are representatives of the relatively shallow Gulf of Thailand.
- Highly aggressive predators - white, blue, mako, hammerhead shark, bull shark. These are large fish, the food for which is large prey (tuna, seals, dolphins). These are deep-sea ocean species that sometimes enter the waters of the Andaman Sea. It is a meeting with these sharks on the beaches of Thailand that scares vacationers so much.
- Not a predatory filter whale shark. Impressive and large, which swims in the water column and feeds on plankton. It is with this shark in Thailand that scuba divers love to be photographed. This species is listed in the Red Book and since 2000 is considered vulnerable.
Chance of meeting and consequences
Sharks in Thailand are common in all waters, because this is their natural habitat. But to meet them is not so simple - being the object of fishing for local residents, they are timid, cautious, and avoid meeting people and ships. But if a person is alone and he is a diver, the likelihood of such a meeting increases.
Yet a shark attack in Thailand is a rarity. A tourist is more likely to see these predators in aquariums. And world statistics cite data on no more than 10 human victims from attacks of these predators per year. And this is several times less than the number of people killed in car accidents or killed by household electrical appliances.
How does this happen?
Contact with these predators can be provoked by a person or not provoked, but there are several scenarios for its development:
- Aggressive behavior of the predator is accompanied by warning signals, but the attack is not committed. This happens in 42% of cases with sharks according to world statistics.
- The shark tastes its prey “for taste” and leaves it, meeting resistance (31%).
- The predator does not abandon attempts to get what it wants and repeats attack after attack. Then who is who. So events develop in 27% of cases of encounters with these carnivorous fish.
- According to scientists from the Canadian ichthyological laboratory, men are more likely to be targeted by sharks than women. This is due to a higher level of stress hormones (adrenaline, norepinephrine, cortisol), which is released into the blood when men are at risk. Ampoules of Lorenzini, which are located on the snout of sharks, very clearly feel these stressful substances.
How not to be a victim?
If you do not want to be the hero of reports that a shark has attacked a person in Thailand, follow these rules:
- The main thing is attention. On the beach, pay attention to the presence of a metal mesh fence and shark warning signs. Swimming for the net is more expensive for yourself, but there may not be any plates. And again, the main thing is attention.
- The smell of sharks is amazing - they smell a drop of blood for several kilometers. If there is even a small wound - refuse bathing and diving. Swimming in the upper layers of water - snorkeling - creates a lot of noise, which also attracts a predator. This is how a wounded animal behaves, and you are not an animal and not a wounded one.
- Diving in the water column is cool, but dangerous. Here, when meeting sharks, the main thing is not to panic. Move smoothly, and maybe the fish will not see the prey in you.
- Recent evidence suggests that sharks have better eyesight than cats. In addition, they distinguish colors. Brilliant watches and vibrant wetsuit details can play a trick on meeting sharks.
- Night swimming and diving is, of course, romantic. But many sharks just hunt at night. And besides them, in the waters of Thailand in the dark you can not see dangerous jellyfish, sea urchin or stones. And there, and before meeting with a predator near.
- The assertion that sharks are found only in clear waters is erroneous. Turbid and contaminated by human products water is very attractive to these predators.
Well, a 100% guarantee not to see a predator in its natural habitat is to swim in the hotel pool. But you and I are not weaklings!
If the meeting still took place
These tips are for divers - after all, they are the ones at risk for the likelihood of contact with these carnivorous fish.
- Do not panic, do not make sudden movements.
- Take a pose not characteristic of fish - take an upright position and spread legs and arms wide.
- Try not to wet yourself - a new physiological fluid in the water will always interest the predator.
- If the attack occurred, fight back. Most often, in this case, the sharks recede and do not feel their clear superiority. The most vulnerable places of the predator are the snout, eyes and gills. Beats must be quick and multiple.
- To pray that the predator is not very hungry and not too persistent.
And while the sharks have not eaten anyone in the waters of the Gulf of Thailand, remember that we are guests in the water. And for sharks, this is a legitimate territory where they live for millions of years, survived dinosaurs and become absolute and unconditional predators.