Most recently, a resident of Co To island district, while fishing for squid on January 20, recorded footage of a group of around 30 dolphins surfacing in the sea approximately 2-3 km off the coast of the island.
According to him, the encounter is not uncommon, but usually, only a few dolphins appear. The man said this is the largest group he has ever seen.
In mid-December 2023, during their patrol, local border guard soldiers captured a 35-second clip of a pod of whales appearing southeast of the island, approximately six nautical miles from the coast.
Also last year, a group of 4-5 whales were spotted foraging for food around Co To Island twice in July and September.
For several years, the authorities of the district have been committed to environmental protection, safeguarding forests, natural resources, marine ecosystems, and actively collecting and processing ocean waste, with the goal of making Co To a plastic-free and sustainable tourist destination.
Thanks to these efforts, the local marine environment has improved, with rare animals reappearing near the shore after many years of absence and coral reefs beginning to thrive./.
