Maya Bay - The Triumphant Return of Blacktip Reef Sharks
Maya Bay, Thailand
The legendary Maya Bay in Thailand is regenerating with the return of blacktip reef sharks, a powerful sign of a marine ecosystem coming back to life.
Dec 7, 2018
Blacktip reef sharks have been reintegrated into the marine ecosystem of Maya Bay. This cove, made famous by the filming of The Beach starring Leonardo DiCaprio, has been closed to tourists since last June. The objective is to restore life to its coral environment. The return of sharks is moving in that direction.
Thailand's Department of National Parks (DNP) released a video on Friday showcasing the presence of dozens of blacktip reef sharks along the shoreline of Maya Bay. The cove, located on Koh Phi Phi Ley island at the kingdom's southernmost tip, has been off-limits to tourists since June 1st, for an indefinite period. "The return of sharks is a good sign; it shows that Maya Bay is changing for the better, assures Thon Thamrongnawasawat, Thai marine biologist, to AFP. Honestly, I didn't think it would yield such impressive results in such a short time. " The shark is often the most prevalent predator in its natural habitat, making it an essential link in the food chain of coastal ecosystems. Its return was therefore crucial for the natural regeneration of Maya Bay.
The blacktip reef shark feeds on small fish inhabiting coastal zones. It herds them into schools to facilitate hunting.
Maya Bay, a Typical Habitat for the Blacktip Reef Shark
The natural habitat of this species, which is widely distributed throughout the Indian Ocean and Pacific, is defined by shallow waters near coral reefs. Maya Bay offers it an ideal biotope. This shark, naturally timid, can pose a danger to humans only if frightened by them. No fatal attacks have yet been recorded; it typically causes only minor leg injuries.
Nature Reclaims Its Domain
These sharks in Maya Bay are unlikely to encounter humans any time soon—tourists, that is. Mass tourism ceased on this Koh Phi Phi Ley beach on June 1st, when the DNP blocked access for an indefinite period. Roughly 5,000 vacationers once walked the beach daily before this measure. They were criticized for damaging the corals by trampling carelessly over them. Tour operators, who deployed numerous speedboats near the shore, were equally culpable, with motor emissions ravaging these marine reefs.
Speedboats once swarmed near Maya Bay's beach, a serious threat to the site's ecosystem
Thibault Bourru
Thibault Bourru
A passionate lover of literature and Asia, Thibault shares his experiences through his writing.
