Jan 15 - Feb 9 2014 I spent eco-touring in northern Thailand and Sri Lanka. In Thailand I had two target species, one mammal; banteng, and one bird; Mrs Hume´s phesant. In Sri Lanka I had 14 target species of birds and one species of mammal; blue whale. From these taxa I planned the trip.
The blue whales are the largets mammals in the world. The subspecies off the coast of southern Sri Lanka is nnown as pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus indica). According to litterature this taxon has a distinctly shorter body length than nominate race, probably 15 –20 meters at maturity, (some perhaps reach 24 m, but probably exceptional). One of these specimen here was a giant, much bigger than the others. The staff with considerable experience of these animals estimated the length of this specimen to be 22 – 24 maybe 25 meters. An elementary mathematical calculation of this whales weight land at aproximately 100 tons.
For further details please see: http://www.club300.se/Files/TravelReports/BIRDS%20&%20MAMMALS%20Thailand%20and%20Sri%20Lanka%202014.pdf All photos © Stefan Lithner.