A school of black-tip reef sharks has been sighted swimming in knee-deep water around the beaches of Phi-Phi islands, off the southern province of Krabi, causing excitement among conservationists,

Even Dr Thorn Thamrongnavasawat, a well-known marine scientist attached to the fishery faculty of Kasetsart University, admitted he was astonished by the sighting of the sharks.

“Believe it or not this is Thai sea and the Phi-Phi island.  Four years ago, there was no hope.  Look, today at Phi-Phi, there are sharks swimming in knee-deep water along the coral reefs around the parki, not just at Maya Bay,” wrote Dr Thorn in his post on the social media together with a clip showing the sharks swimming.

The clip has attracted a stream of praises from netizens for the tireless effort of park officials to restore the environment of Phi-Phi islands and the nearby Maya Bay where black-tip reef sharks were also sighted.

Phi-Phi islands and Maya Bay, two of the country’s best-known tourist spots, have been temporarily closed to tourists due to overcrowding.