It’s dolphin time!
Just one hour east of Bangkok, the waters of the Bang Pakong River meet the Gulf of Thailand. An easy day trip from the bustling metropolis, the area is home to a rare breed of river dolphins.
The Irrawaddy dolphin, known to scientists as the Orcaella brevirostris, is one of the most endangered dolphins in the world.
With the monsoon waters receding, now is the perfect time to charter a fishing vessel from the coast and go looking for the elusive creatures. If nothing else, the three hour cruise along the river is a beautiful way to spend the day, but the dolphin watching this year has already exceeded expectations.
“I never would have thought I could see such wildlife close to Bangkok,� said an excited Thai woman who came along with her 9-year-old daughter “I never even knew there were dolphins living in these rivers.�
The rare dolphins are generally found in rivers, estuaries and coasts in South East Asia and northern Australia. In this area of Thailand they are most often sighted in November, but this year the dolphins arrived early and have been seen as early as October.
The dolphins follow a certain breed of catfish into the estuary, mimicking their migration patterns. They tend to be shy and can stay underwater to hide for up to 12 minutes at a time. Seeing even one of the creatures is a special treat for many of the tourists who make the journey to the estuary.
“It was indeed a pleasure to be able to see one up close,� said Dr. Susan Lieberman, Director of WWF’s Global Species Programme who was in Bangkok attending an International Conference on Wildlife Trade. “It makes discussions in a conference hall over their fate really come alive.�
The International Conference was held in Bangkok in early October and discussed giving the Irrawaddy Dolphin a special status which would ban international commercial trade of the species.
The best time of the day to see the dolphins is early in the morning, before 9:00. At that time, the dolphins are engaged in feeding and are more likely to be seen. It is also a good idea to go dolphin watching during high tide. When a dolphin has been spotted, boats can approach quietly from downstream, however, boats should be discouraged from ever chasing or pursuing dolphins. Experts advise against jumping into the water or trying to touch or swim with the dolphins.
To get to dolphin watching cruise on the Bang Pakong River, follow the Bang Na-Trat expressway east from Bangkok.