Rare dolphin species spotted swimming off Thailand islands, photos show

A trio of rare marine species was recently spotted off the coast of Thailand, photos show.

The elusive sea creatures — two types of dolphin and one sea turtle — were observed during an April survey in the Gulf of Thailand, according to a May 6 news release from the Thai Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.

Conducted with the help of drone technology, the survey specifically focused on the Ang Thong Islands National Park and Hat Khanom National Park, both located about 450 miles south of Bangkok.

Photos posted by the department show researchers — equipped with cameras and binoculars — aboard a wooden vessel, scanning the horizon for signs of life.

Three rare species

Among the species observed were Irrawaddy dolphins, which are found in the coastal regions of Southeast Asia, according to the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF).

On the morning of April 28, the research team spotted a pod of about five to seven dolphins near Nok Tapao Island, the release said. The animals were confirmed to be healthy, breathing normally and free of injuries from fishing gear.

Members of the species are distinguished by their dark complexion, round heads and short beak, according to WWF. They can grow up to 9 feet in length and weigh up to 440 pounds.

The species is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with certain river-dwelling populations considered to be critically endangered.

The dolphins are chiefly threatened by the fishing industry — as they are sometimes accidentally caught in fishing nets, according to WWF.

The second dolphin species observed during the survey was the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin.

Nine individuals were spotted on April 29 near the Kite Islands, according to the release. Several interesting behaviors were observed, including herding, lobtailing — or tail-slapping — and spyhopping, where the animals lift their head above the surface to observe.

The animals have longer beaks, a more slender build and more distinctive dorsal fins than common bottlenose dolphins, according to Whale and Dolphin Conservation, a nonprofit. They can grow up to nearly 9 feet long and weigh 500 pounds.

Found in the warm waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, they are considered near threatened by the IUCN.

The last rarely seen species documented by researchers was the green sea turtle, which was also observed on April 29 near the Kite Islands.

The species, the biggest hard-shelled sea turtle on Earth, is found in temperate and subtropical stretches of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

They can grow to 4 feet, weigh up to 400 pounds and are estimated to have lifespans of 70 years or more.

Nearly a dozen of their populations are listed as endangered, according to NOAA.

The findings confirms the abundance of marine life in the Gulf of Thailand and highlights the need for continuous research in the area in order to promote conservation, according to the release.

Google Translate was used to translate a news release from the Thai government.

This story was originally published May 8, 2025 at 11:32 AM with the headline "Rare dolphin species spotted swimming off Thailand islands, photos show."