Posing with starfish 'ecologically harmful'
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Tourists visiting marine parks or diving sites have been advised to stop harmful practices like picking up starfish to take photographs and later sharing the shot online, a Bangkok seminar on wildlife conservation was told yesterday.
This practice was usually encouraged by tour guides and rangers stationed at marine parks, a Prince of Songkla University lecturer on marine wildlife said.
Sak-anant Plathong said fish food was also openly sold at several marine parks, a practice that was either allegedly supported by park rangers or to which they turned a blind eye. He warned that feeding certain types of fish would alter their natural characteristics important for their survival, and would also affect the area’s ecological balance.
Posting pictures with starfish has now become a trend on social media, especially among Thai and other Asian tourists, Sak-anant said, adding that feather and pincushion starfish were most popular and sustained the most damage.
“Westerners have a better understanding about nature conservation and are more respectful to wildlife,” he added.
Manophas Huamuangkaew, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, confirmed yesterday that tour companies and tour guides would be asked to discourage tourists from picking up starfish and that the sale of fish food at national parks would also be discouraged.
