Bryde's Whale strands and dies in Bang Pu, Samut Prakan

Thairath•Society•21d ago

Reader Briefing

A male Bryde's whale, suspected to be 'Chao Malee', died from severe head and jaw impacts after stranding in Bang Pu, Samut Prakan.

•A male Bryde's whale carcass was found near the Bang Pu sea wall in Samut Prakan on August 30, 2026.
•Veterinary necropsy revealed severe internal injuries, including a broken upper jaw and traumatic lumbar hernia.
•The whale is suspected to be 'Chao Malee', the 6th calf of Mae Kanya.
•The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources urged boat operators to reduce speed to prevent similar accidents.

Overview

•Mr. Banjerd Udomsomahiran reported the discovery of a large whale carcass near the Bang Pu sea wall on August 30, 2026.
•Veterinary teams from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources and other agencies performed a detailed necropsy on August 31.
•The whale was identified as a pre-reproductive male Bryde's whale measuring 10.70 meters in length.
•The veterinary team concluded the cause of death was shock and blood loss resulting from severe impact to the head and jaw.
•The whale is suspected to be 'Chao Malee', a calf first recorded by Mr. Jirayu Ekkul on May 16, 2021.
•Experts noted Bryde's whale populations in the Gulf of Thailand increased from about 60 individuals in 2015 to over 100 currently.
•The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources requested boat operators to reduce speed and maintain distance from whales.
•The death is described as a significant loss for the Bryde's whale population in the upper Gulf of Thailand.

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Key Entities

Person

Banjerd Udomsomahiran(บรรเจิด อุดมสมหิรัญ)

Leader of the Upper Gulf of Thailand Love Network in Samut Prakan province and advisor to the Director General of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.

Jirayu Ekkul(จิรายุ เอกกุล)

The person who first recorded images of the whale suspected to be 'Chao Malee' on May 16, 2021.

Organization

Department of Marine and Coastal Resources(กรมทรัพยากรทางทะเลและชายฝั่ง)

The government agency responsible for the necropsy and issuing warnings to boat operators regarding whale safety.

Upper Gulf of Thailand Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center(ศูนย์วิจัยทรัพยากรทางทะเลและชายฝั่งอ่าวไทยตอนบน)

The research center coordinated to inspect the Bryde's whale carcass.

Marine and Coastal Resources Office 2(สำนักทรัพยากรทางทะเลและชายฝั่งที่ 2)

The office coordinated to inspect the Bryde's whale carcass.

Upper Gulf of Thailand Love Network(เครือข่ายรักอ่าวไทยตอนบน)

A conservation group that assisted in the discovery and necropsy of the whale.

Place

Bang Pu(บางปู)ℹ️

The location in Mueang District, Samut Prakan Province, where the whale carcass was found.

Samut Prakan(สมุทรปราการ)ℹ️

The province where the whale carcass was discovered.