While the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing travel restrictions eased the pressure on habitats for four endangered marine species off the coast of Thailand, the recent lifting of those restrictions has become a cause for concern.
According to the Straits Times, 11.2 million tourists visited Thailand in 2022, and while it’s a lower number than the 40 million who visited the country in pre-pandemic 2019, it’s still a significant surge compared to the lockdown years.
That surge has led to concerns that endangered dugongs, Irrawaddy and pink humpbacked dolphins as well as Bryde’s whales could be under increased pressure.
For example, the pandemic saw sightings of Bryde’s whales increase compared with 2019.
