April 18th, 2006, 23:54
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PHANG NGA: A popular whale shark nicknamed тАЬBig BoyтАЭ has been spotted off Koh Surin, and around Richelieu Rock, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, Pakdee Khruthanang of the Phuket Eco-Tourism Association told the Gazette today.
тАЬBig Boy has been spotted off Koh Surin nearly daily since the beginning of last month,тАЭ she said.
тАЬHe is about eight meters long and weighs more than a ton. Whale sharks average about five meters in length, but can grow to as large as 12 meters,тАЭ K. Pakdee explained.
She recommended that tourists and divers alike take the opportunity to see this prime example of the worldтАЩs largest fish. тАЬWhale sharks live in oceans with water temperatures between 21┬║C and 26┬║C, and Big Boy migrates from Alaska every year to escape the cold temperatures there,тАЭ she said.
тАЬNow is the best time of the year to see him. He is rarely spotted here after April,тАЭ she added.
K. Pakdee said that another, smaller whale shark has been spotted in the same areas. тАЬIt is five meters long and has been nicknamed тАШSon of Big BoyтАЩ by local divers,тАЭ she said.
Dive companies frequently complain that whale shark sightings have become increasingly rare due to the activities of fishing boats in the Andaman Sea.
http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/index.asp?id=4947
PHANG NGA: A popular whale shark nicknamed тАЬBig BoyтАЭ has been spotted off Koh Surin, and around Richelieu Rock, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, Pakdee Khruthanang of the Phuket Eco-Tourism Association told the Gazette today.
тАЬBig Boy has been spotted off Koh Surin nearly daily since the beginning of last month,тАЭ she said.
тАЬHe is about eight meters long and weighs more than a ton. Whale sharks average about five meters in length, but can grow to as large as 12 meters,тАЭ K. Pakdee explained.
She recommended that tourists and divers alike take the opportunity to see this prime example of the worldтАЩs largest fish. тАЬWhale sharks live in oceans with water temperatures between 21┬║C and 26┬║C, and Big Boy migrates from Alaska every year to escape the cold temperatures there,тАЭ she said.
тАЬNow is the best time of the year to see him. He is rarely spotted here after April,тАЭ she added.
K. Pakdee said that another, smaller whale shark has been spotted in the same areas. тАЬIt is five meters long and has been nicknamed тАШSon of Big BoyтАЩ by local divers,тАЭ she said.
Dive companies frequently complain that whale shark sightings have become increasingly rare due to the activities of fishing boats in the Andaman Sea.
http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/index.asp?id=4947