Sad news: the autopsy of a Bryde's whale washed ashore at Bang Pu found severe internal wounds from blunt force trauma to the head and jaw. The victim is believed to be "Chao Malee," the sixth calf of mother Kanya. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources appeals to boat operators to reduce speed to prevent repeat accidents.
At 11:00 a.m. on 30 Aug 2026, Mr. Banjerd Udomsomhirun, leader of the Upper Gulf of Thailand Conservation Network in Samut Prakan, was informed of a large whale carcass floating near the shore by the Bang Pu sea dyke, Mueang District, Samut Prakan Province, and coordinated with relevant agencies to investigate.
Initial examination found the carcass to be a large Bryde's whale, estimated over 10 years old, at least 10 meters long, weighing about 5–6 tons, and sexually mature. The whale was a fully grown adult, located approximately 100 meters from shore. Though decomposition had begun, the body was relatively intact.
Mr. Banjerd stated the Bryde's whale was sexually mature and fully grown, making this carcass notably large and well-preserved. Officials and conservation groups planned to move the carcass away from the community area to avoid odor disturbance before towing it to a site for a thorough autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
A veterinary team from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, along with other officials, promptly began investigating the whale’s physical characteristics and identifying marks to match it with entries in the database. Almost every Bryde's whale in the Gulf of Thailand is individually named through cooperation between coastal residents and government agencies. Some have been given royal names by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, such as "Mae Khao Niao" and "Chao Som Tum."
Experts in whale conservation noted that the Bryde's whale population in the Gulf of Thailand has steadily increased. A 2015 survey recorded around 60 individuals, while current estimates exceed 100, reflecting the health of Thailand's marine ecosystem.
However, recent months have seen a troubling rise in whale mortality. Just a week earlier, a 6-meter-long calf was found dead. The veterinary team is conducting an autopsy on the latest whale to check for injuries from human activity, such as boat propellers, as well as natural diseases.
,The Department of Marine and Coastal Resourcesposted on 31 Aug that on 30 Aug, Mr. Banjerd Udomsomuthirun, advisor to the Director-General of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, received an urgent report and coordinated with the Upper Gulf of Thailand Marine Resources and Coastal Research Center and Marine and Coastal Resources Office 2 to inspect the Bryde's whale carcass found near the rock dyke in Khlong Sao Thong community, Bang Pu Subdistrict, Mueang Samut Prakan District, Samut Prakan Province.
On 31 Aug, a veterinary and academic team, together with the Upper Gulf of Thailand Conservation Network and volunteers, conducted a detailed autopsy. The whale was identified as a male Bryde's whale, pre-pubescent, measuring 10.70 meters. Despite beginning decomposition and some tissue loss, the thick blubber layer (2.8–4.0 cm) indicated good body condition.
The veterinary autopsy found severe internal injuries, including bruising and bleeding in the head, embedded bone fragments in the upper jaw tissue, and a fractured upper jaw. A traumatic lumbar hernia was observed, with the stomach and intestines displaced under the skin due to strong blunt force trauma from a non-sharp object, causing muscle and fascia tears on the side of the body.
Veterinarians concluded the whale died from severe blunt force trauma to the head and jaw, causing shock from the injuries combined with blood loss.
Physical characteristics and database comparison suggest this whale was "Chao Malee," the sixth calf of mother Kanya, first sighted by Mr. Jirayu Ekkul on 16 May 2021. This loss is significant for the Bryde's whale population in the upper Gulf of Thailand. The department urges all parties to cooperate by reducing speed and maintaining distance for whale safety.
The incident highlights concerns for rare marine animals and reminds fishermen, tour operators, and transport vessels navigating the upper Gulf of Thailand to strictly follow conservation guidelines when operating in Bryde's whale habitats. These include slowing down, allowing more observation time before stopping, avoiding close approaches, and not cutting across or suddenly rushing toward whale groups. These measures not only prevent boat-whale collisions but also foster shared responsibility for marine resource protection, helping Bryde's whales—symbols of Thailand's rich seas—thrive safely and sustainably.
Thanks for the information from the Facebook page of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources