Box jellyfish species full#

The August 2014, Box jellyfish killing of a 5-year-old French boy on Koh Phangan broke a years’ long ‘safe period’ during which tens of millions of foreign tourists swarmed to Thai beaches without fatal attack by jellyfish, sharks, sea snakes or other dangerous sea creatures. Also, some scientists believe that as turtles – which consider jellyfish delicacies – are killed off my man, more of the dangerous jellies, such as Box jellyfish, will survive to threaten humans. Some people surmise that rising ocean temperatures are responsible for increasing numbers of jellyfish in oceans worldwide. A dangerous shroud spreading over the island’s happy-go-lucky tourism industry? Were all of Koh Samui’s recent stinging cases caused by the chironex Box jellyfish species? Was the 2015 surge temporary, caused by conditions specific to that year? Or is this a warning sign of things to come. A move that seems to have worked, with no new attacks reported in recent years.īut statistics regarding injuries by Box jellyfish in Thailand are thin, and do not answer the questions surrounding the recent surge in stinging attacks.

Koh Mak was the first island in Thailand where hotels began placing nets along beaches to block the entry of box jellyfish. This is becoming a serious concern for hoteliers on Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Mak, another island in the eastern Gulf with at least four serious stingings, but no fatalities. Those stung on the arms and legs by a Box jellyfish often survive, but suffer hours of excruciating pain and deep welts that don’t heal for months.Īs with the Box jellyfish deaths, the great majority of Thailand’s non-fatal stingings also occurred in the Gulf, particularly around islands. Often right there on the beach just minutes after emerging from the water. And if large numbers of a jelly’s murderous stinging cells wrap around a human torso, a quick death is the common result. With bodies that grow to a square bell about 20 – 30 centimetres across each side, box jellies trail tentacles as long as three metres.īut being translucent, Box jellyfish are near invisible to the human eye, and people can walk or swim right into them even in clear water. Box jellyfish also have rudimentary eyes that allow them to swim around obstacles. Trailing their long tentacles along clearly navigated paths. These hunters of small fish have been observed patrolling back and forth along beaches. Many of which are simply swept along with the currents. Washed by deeper, clearer oceans, this Indian Ocean coastline is emerging as the safer side of the country.īox jellyfish are known to prefer relatively shallow, calm waters where they are much more pro-active than other jellyfish species.

An 11-year-old Swedish girl who fell victim in Koh Lanta in 2008 is the only recorded death on Thailand’s Andaman Coast.

Tellingly, all but one death occurred in the relatively shallow waters of the Gulf of Thailand. Seven of them foreigners with just one Thai.

In total, eight tourists have been killed by the box jellyfish Chironex Fleckeri since records began in the 1990s. With so many stinging attacks occurring around these two islands a pattern is appearing in Thailand’s box jellyfish troubles. The two recent deaths included a young French boy (Aug 2014) and a Thai woman (July 2015). That’s four deaths in total, in 2002, 2002, 20.

Box jellyfish species full#

Koh Pha Ngan, Samui’s sister island just 10 kilometres to the north, and site of the world-famous Full Moon Party, has the sad distinction of having the most deaths by jellyfish in all of Thailand. What is happening? Why are there suddenly so many of the dangerous, often deadly box jellyfish in the waters here? Officials are placing bottles of vinegar on safety posts along the island’s beaches and encouraging hotels to invest in nets to keep the jellyfish away from swimming areas. This sudden surge in stinging cases has officials and hoteliers in Samui and nearby Koh Pha Ngan in a mild panic. Just as alarming, however, are the 11 other, non-fatal attacks in and around Koh Samui and nearby Koh Pha Ngan in recent years. Deadly Box Jellyfish are a Problem in Thailand (But not a major one)īox jellyfish killed two people off Thai beaches in 2015 the latest being the death of a 20-year-old German woman on Lamai Beach, Koh Samui, in October.