PUBLISHED: January 7, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.
According to Assoc Prof. Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a marine biologist and professor at Kasetsart University, the light Omura’s whale has been spotted in an extraordinary sight close to Koh He in Phuket. This may be the first time this extremely rare species has ever been seen in Thailand or even the entire world.
According to in-depth information about the marine animal sighted on the evening of January 1 north of Koh He, the famous marine biologist wrote on Twitter on Saturday that it appears to be an Omura’s whale, not a Bruda whale.
He claimed that the main distinction between the two is that a Bruda shark has three distinct ridges on the front of its nose, whereas an Omura’s whale only has one.
Around 4 p.m., a passenger on the Happy Ours ship, which is located about 9 kilometers north of Koh He, noticed the whale along with another Omura’s whale.
Omura’s sharks, according to Assoc Prof. Thon, are a rare species that are mostly found in South Asian and southern Japanese waters.
The animals can be seen in Thailand’s Andaman Sea more frequently than in the Gulf of Thailand, despite the fact that they have been seen there as well.
A light Omura’s whale is “doubly uncommon,” according to the marine  expert.
One in ten million or more people are likely to see one, he said.
The Nopparatthara-Phi Phi area park’s chief, Yutthapong Damsrisuk, reported last week that some tourists had just seen a 7-meter-tall white whale close to the island.
Officials were attempting to confirm the types.
The sight of these unique types demonstrates the variety of marine life in the Andaman Sea, it is advised to visit canoes and fishing vessels to take extra precautions when operating in areas where Omura’s whales are known to be present.