140 Blacktip Reef Sharks Spotted Displaying at Maya Bay Beach
A record 140 blacktip reef sharks were documented in Maya Bay during May surveys, with the Krabi bay serving as a critical breeding and nursery ground evidenced by increasing numbers of juveniles and newborns.
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has documented approximately 140 blacktip reef sharks in Maya Bay, Krabi province. According to Jinda Srisuppatpong, director of the Marine National Park Management Division, early May surveys confirm that Maya Bay remains a critical habitat with high shark density.
A seven-day drone survey found that dawn hours were peak activity periods, with average counts reaching 120 sharks and a maximum count of 140 on May 3rd—a record for the survey. Notably, groups of 20-50 adult sharks were observed swimming close to shore to hunt prey during periods without tourism disturbance.
Underwater camera monitoring revealed an increase in juvenile sharks compared to the previous 3-4 months, with 11 juveniles documented. Beach observations also recorded 4-5 newborn sharks measuring less than 30 centimeters foraging in water shallow enough to reach the ankles, confirming that Maya Bay continues to function as an efficient natural nursery ground for shark reproduction.
