South

Omura whale found dead on Chumphon beach

Published

2 months ago

January 14, 2019

The Thaiger

PHOTO: DMCR

A young Omura whale has been discovered dead along the Chumpon coastline. Experts believe it died as a result of an infection.

The Department of Marine and Coastal Resource (DMCR) was notified about the whale that was found dead near shores Sawee, Chumphon last week.

The DMCR is reporting that the female Omura whale was nearly 5 metres long weighing 600 kilograms. The whale’s age was estimated to be around three months old. A 30 centimetre gash was found on its tail.

The cause of death is believed to be from an infection related to the wound after getting lost or separated from its mother.

Phuket

Dead dugong washed up on Trang Beach

Published

2 days ago

March 20, 2019

The Thaiger

PHOTOS: DNP

A dead dugong which was washed up on a beach in Trang today has been sent to Phuket Marine Biological Centre for further examination.

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation reports that Chaiyapruek Weerapong, the head of Mu Koh Libong Non-Hunting Area in Trang was notified that the dugong was washed up on the beach on Koh Lao Leang.

The male dugong is 115 centimetres long, 75 centimetres wide and weighs around 20 kilograms. The dugong has now been sent to the Phuket Marine Biological Centre to find the cause of death.

South

Massive petrol smuggling network uncovered in South

Published

3 days ago

March 20, 2019

The Thaiger & The Nation

Massive petrol smuggling network uncovered in South | The Thaiger

by Krissana Thiwatsirikul

PHOTO: Facebook/Thai News Agency

Thirteen people have been arrested following the largest seizure of smuggled petrol in the South in years.

Soldiers and paramilitary rangers intercepted 290,000 litres of petrol being smuggled at a pier in Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Tha Sala district after a stake-out this morning. Customs and excise officials inspected the petrol and vehicles before handing the matter and the suspects over to the police.

Two modified 20 metre vessels, the Ore Feungfa and Khajornlarp, docked at the pier with 290,000 litres of gasoline in their holds. Officials also impounded four 18-wheel trucks and a six-wheel truck parked nearby ready to take on the shipment.

The 13 suspects apprehended included the boats’ skippers and crewmembers and the truck drivers. Several boat crewmembers jumped into the sea and escaped arrest.

Officials claimed that Somsak Narongdech, skipper of the Ore Feungfa, confessed he had received the shipment in international waters and was going to offload it to the trucks, but he didn’t know the final destination. He reportedly said he handled six or seven such shipments a month.

Yothin Pengsawat, driver of one of the 18-wheel trucks, purportedly said he was supposed to take the petrol to a customer in Nakhon Sawan.

STORY: The Nation

South

3 wounded in explosion at Narathiwat border defence unit

Published

7 days ago

March 16, 2019

The Thaiger

Three security officials have been injured in the latest bout of southern violence when armed militants attacked a border defence unit’s base near the Kolok River in the Tak Bai district in the southern province of Narathiwat on the Thai/Malaysian border.

Several houses and cars nearby were also damaged by the powerful IED (improvised explosive device).

Initial reports have revealed that a group of about 6 militants opened fire at the base with automatic weapons, followed by a powerful blast from a device attached to a motorcycle parked in front of the base.

Three suspects have been apprehended by security police and are being questioned.

SOURCE: Thai PBS