Big Box Jellyfish Blog Southeast Asia

As reported on the website of Thailand's Bureau of Epidemiology, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at a conference in Bangkok bringing various government departments, authorities, universities, interested groups and coastal communities together in the fight against the threat of box jellyfish. The MoU is another major step forward officially creating closer, long-term co-operation and collaboration from the highest level of government to the beachside officials and operators who manage the risk. Following is an edited transcript from the website:    The Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health are moving forward to develop our epidemiological network and create knowledge of the prevention of injury and death from venomous jellyfish in Thai sea waters. Today (21 May, 2019) at Centra Hotel by Centara Government Center and Convention Center, Chaengwattana, Bangkok, Dr. Suwanchai Wattana Yingcharoenchai, Director-General of the Department ...

And off to the children's playground we go. Not one with monkey bars, swing, slide nor merry-go-round. This time, let's join heroic vlogger-adventurer Finn Snow in the Philippines as he does something stupid and risky while telling others how to be stupid and risky so he can be popular, and make money or save money with free tours. The title of his video is  'How To Juggle BOX JELLYFISH (Blindfolded)'. Sorry, that should be,  'How To Safely Hold BOX JELLYFISH (Coron Palawan)'. Keep in mind that box jellyfish are widely known as the world's most venomous animal. Dozens of innocent victims are killed by them every year in the Philippines, mainly children.  The title is dumb, the content is dumber and the advice is the dumbest.   Unless you want to indulge in the endless narcissism of the flawless Finn Snow and his model side-kick who vainly attempt to eclipse a stunning Philippines' backdrop, fast-forward his Youtube video to around 6:50 minutes...

Living in The Philippines or heading that way? Look out! Box jellyfish are making waves and it seems as though their season in the spotlight is well underway.  According to the Philippines Jellyfish Stings Facebook page, April 2019 has been a busy month with box jellyfish stings or samples collected in numerous areas around the country. Please stay safe, remain vigilant and heed any warning signs. Further Reading: Safety and First-Aid Instructions For A Sting Palawan Box Jellyfish with Finn Snow Areas in The Philippines where box jellyfish problems have very recently occurred include: Province of Palawan Castilla, Province of Sorsogon (southern Luzon) Estancia, Province of Iloilo (Panay island) Camarines Sur (Luzon)  Lucena, Calabarzon region (Luzon) Cagayan (north Luzon) Dimasalang (Masbate island) Dalahican (Luzon) Marabut (Samar island) Salabay is Tagalog (Filipino) for box jellyfish and here are some images posted on Facebook over the past we...

'Attack of the Killer Jellyfish!' screams the The Star newspaper's headline (27 February 2019). Malaysia's online news digest is as usual on another planet with this claim, but the story itself suggests that the world may soon welcome a new addition to the infamous Chironex family. Chironex is a genus of box jellyfish that commands an imperious position at the top of the tree. There are at least 51 known species of box jellyfish, most small and harmless, but Chironex is king with its large size, deadly venom and ability to see, swim and strike fear into the hearts of unsuspecting swimmers. Further Reading: Box Jellyfish Facts There are currently three known species of Chironex that range in Indo-Pacific waters between southern Japan and northern Australia. Chironex fleckeri inhabits Australian coastal areas, Chironex yamaguchii calls Japan and the Philippines home, while Chironex indrasksajiae is the newest member discovered in the Gulf of Thailand.  Fu...

Stinging and stabbing sea creatures are equally prevalent and dangerous in South-East Asia as they are in Australia. From Fairfax's Sydney Morning Herald, the following article was published in Australia on 28 December 2018: 

Reposting as box jellyfish facts are truly bizarre, and somewhat terrifying ... "These are fantastic creatures with 24 eyes, four parallel 'brains' and 60 arseholes," decrees Swede vision expert Dan Nilsson from the University of Lund who tells his box jellyfish facts as he sees them.

Jellyfish have a knack of being in the wrong place at the wrong time and ruining your day with a nasty sting. For some the outcome can be highly traumatic or even tragic with lethal box jellyfish taking lives. Most are left with an itchy rash or burning skin and even a hospital visit and lasting scars. 

Moa and Lewis. Swedish girl, Australian boy.  11-year old d aughter and sister,  4-year old  son and brother. Both on an amazing family holiday. The Swedes on Koh Lanta by the Andaman Sea, the Aussies on Koh Mak in the Gulf of Thailand. Playing in paradise with not a care in the world. Immersed in the clear tropical sea, warm breeze and picture-postcard scenery. Lost in the wonder of t he Land Of Smiles.

Chalok Lam Bay in the north of Koh Phangan, Thailand has had an alarming increase in dangerous box jellyfish sightings over September, 2018. Thailand's Department of Marine & Coastal Resources has as a result issued a warning to avoid swimming anywhere in the bay until further notice.

A selection of this blog's images from South-East Asia including box jellyfish, sting victims and locations. Thailand's Chironex indrasaksajiae S ucharitakul   sp. Langkawi, Malaysia Morbakka, Koh Tao, Thailand Koh Mak, Thailand Phuket, Thailand Koh Phangan, Thailand Koh Samui, Thailand Koh Lanta, Thailand Koh Samui, Thailand Philippines Thailand Training session, Thailand First Aid Vinegar Pole, Thailand Jellyfish prevention net, Thailand Koh Samui, Thailand All photo credits duly acknowledged where possible throughout the blog.