False killer whales spotted off Similan Island

A group of about 30 false killer whales which are the large members of the dolphin family was spotted in the sea off Similan Island today.

The spotting of these false killer whales, the fourth largest in the dolphin family was reported by operator of the Wow Andaman Tour as he took tourists on a tour of the Similan Island in Kuraburi district of Phang Nga province this morning.

The false killer whales swam alongside the tour boat near the Hin Pusar or Elephant Head Rock, thus impressing and exciting all the tourists in board.

The boat captain slowed down the boat to aklow tourists to capture this rare moment with their camera phones until they swam away.

According to Thai Rath Online’s interview with a marine life expert, Dr Kongkiat Kittiwatanawing, this rare dolphin family is a protected species.

He recalled that in 2008 about 30 false killer whales swam ashore in Phuket’s Racha Island beach.

He said these dolphins live in deep sea both in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, and advised no feeding to these dolphins as they eat fish and skids.

He said feeding them could endanger their behaviour, health and the ecological system of the sea.

Female false killer whale reaches lengths of 15 feet or 4.5 metres, while adult males are almost 20 feet or 6 metre

Thai PBS

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