Bryde's whale is a mammal that lives in the sea. It has a gray-black color and a relatively slender shape,with scattered white specks under the chin and the neck. Some have faint bands on their backs, and some have faded spots all over their bodies, in gray with white freckles. When fully grown, it reaches 15-16.5 meters in length and weighs up to 40 tons.
Bryde's whale is now one of the reserved wild animals under the Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act of 2019. Bryde's whale is found throughout the world in tropical and subtropical regions, especially in Thailand, where Bryde's whales have been living in Thai territorial waters for more than a hundred years, distributed in both the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. In some seasons, Bryde's whales can be found around Surin Island in Phang-nga Province, and Racha Noi – Racha Yai Island in Phuket Province, while in the Gulf of Thailand, they can be found spread almost all year round in the upper Gulf of Thailand or around the Rupe Tua Kor Bay. The seaside areas in Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, and Phetchaburi provinces are considered one of the few spots in the world where they can be seen all year round.
September to December is considered the high point of the Bryde's whale watching season, which is the end of the rainy season and the beginning of winter. The sky is clear, and the wind is quite calm, suitable for sailing. Five major rivers – the Mae Klong River, Tha Chin River, Phetchaburi River, Bang Pakong River, and the Chao Phraya River – drain fresh water from the mainland. Along the way, there is an accumulation of nutrients that draw groups of small fish, such as mackerels and anchovies, which attract the Bryde’s whales, as these are considered their favorite meal. They are frequently seen circling around the area of Tua Kor Bay. Therefore, there is a chance to see the whales more easily than in other seasons.
With regard to boat boarding points to watch Bryde's whales, there are options from the coast of Samut Sakhon Province to the coast of Phetchaburi, depending on what is convenient for you, but if you have little time, you could consider a one-day trip around Phanthai Norasing Subdistrict, Samut Sakhon Province, around Bang Khun Thian Sea; this is the easiest and most convenient point because it is only one hour away from the center of Bangkok.
Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand
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