Park ranger Pleanprasob Khaonuan explained that high waves triggered by the annual monsoon season had battered the slabs and broken pieces off them during the past few weeks. He continued by saying rough seas in previous years had also damaged the shell slabs.
The ranger noted that park management had submitted a request for the funds to build a protective wall at the cemetery. He added that the THB400 million price tag of such a barrier was probably the reason the budget had never been allocated.
Mr Khaonuan finished off by saying the site, which locals call Susan Hoi, was unique and probably the only one of a similar size anywhere in the world. Local geologists added a footnote saying that action needed to be taken as soon as possible to preserve the site for posterity.
Susan Hoi is one of the many draws of Krabi Province. Krabi together with Phuket Island, Khao Lak and Koh Lanta are among the most popular holiday hotspots along Thailand’s Andaman Sea shoreline. 12GO ASIA sells tickets for travel to these and all the other key destinations in the nation.
Krabi national park explores ways of protecting seaside fossil park
News in Asia
Geologists and national park officials in Krabi are exploring options to protect the iconic Fossil Shell Cemetery from destructive monsoon waves. The two-kilometre-long stretch of Noppharat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park shoreline is made up of slabs of fossilised shells estimated to be at least 75 million years old.