Bryde’s whale gives birth to third baby in Gulf of Thailand

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In the Gulf of Thailand, a Bryde's whale has given birth to her third baby whale. Mae Thong Dee was photographed by wildlife photographer Jirayu Ekkul, whose team has been monitoring the whale, according to Nation Thailand. She has several injuries, including a ripped dorsal fin and severe eye injuries, according to reports. 

“About 2 hours after taking a ship to the Gulf of Thailand, we found Mae Thong Dee and her baby whales. It may have been destiny that we met these whales.” 

Mae Thong Dee's safety was feared two years ago, according to Jirayu, after she sustained an injury to her eyes, but the latest sighting has given them hope. 

“I finally realized why she ate so much and lived over 9 months in the gulf. It wanted to look after its health to give birth to a baby whale.” 

Blue whales and humpback whales are in the same group as Bryde's whales. They are usually seen alone or in pairs, but in feeding areas, they will sometimes congregate in groups of around 20. The conservation status of the Bryde's whale is listed as unfavorable in Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals. The Memorandum of Understanding for Cetacean Conservation and Their Habitats in the Pacific Islands Region also covers it. That was named after Johan Bryde, the Norwegian consul in South Africa who supported the creation of the country's first modern whaling station.