Despite the closure of Maya Bay to visitors, a pod of dolphins shows up

Staff from Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park on Friday saw a group of about ten bottlenose dolphins in the southern part of Maya Bay. The three-year closure of Maya Bay was successful in reintroducing plant and animal species that had vanished as a result of visitor overpopulation. The blacktip shark is the most prominent animal to return to reproduce in the bay. It was “the most gorgeous site she had ever seen,” according to a German woman.

August 1 marked the beginning of Maya Bay’s closure, which will last until September 30. Prior to that, it had reopened on January 1 following a 2018 closure.

A park ranger told NPR in March that no one would ever consider seeing the local sharks before the park closed, when there may be over 6,000 visitors per day. He claimed that 160 sharks may be observed on a good day.

Earlier this year, other tourists visiting Maya Bay, both Thai and foreign, found it difficult to put into words how stunning it was. The 2000 film “The Beach,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, made Maya Bay well-known. The famous Maya Bay in Krabi has been closed for the past three months to aid in the recovery of the local species, and it seems to be working.