Nicknamed Thailand’s “Aquaman”, 29-year-old Siranudh “Psi” Bhirombhakdi Scott has been riding a wave of fame over the past week for his efforts to save the ocean.
However, his crusade to protect marine parks sparked a backlash that came to a head when a video surfaced showing him confronting a foreign tourist. The clip, posted on April 15, shows Siranudh scolding the tourist for casually greeting him with the Mandarin word for “hello” – “ni hao”.
Although many of his followers said the greeting was delivered in a demeaning tone, others said Siranudh had overreacted.
“I want to emphasise that foreigners need to respect Thais too,” Siranudh said in response to the heated debate. Many non-Chinese Thais consider being greeted in Mandarin disrespectful, and even as a form of mockery in some cases.
Under the radar
Siranudh first made headlines in October 2022, when he was praised as the first Thai to swim the 30-kilometre stretch from Krabi’s Ao Nang Beach and Poda Island, to raise awareness for marine conservation.
The April 15 clip sparked a less favourable reaction, with many accusing him of arrogance and damaging Thailand’s image. One person even lodged an official complaint against him with his boss, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) chief Athapol Charoenshunsa.
Attaphol appointed Siranudh as his adviser on a voluntary basis on January 2 last year. The young man, who hails from one Thailand’s richest families, was given no salary for the job.
The complaint, meanwhile, was the latest in a long list of accusations made against Siranudh by the DNP and others.
The young conservationist is accused of disrupting DNP officials by using their vehicles without prior notice, taking charge of foreign volunteers without authority, using drones without permission, and being condescending towards tourists, tour guides, boat crew and tourism businesses, among others.
Siranudh hit back by dismissing the accusations and handing in his resignation, accusing the DNP of negligence and inertia over his efforts to expose misdeeds and corruption in national parks. He said he purposely did not book DNP vehicles several days in advance, because he did not want to give staff time to “hide things” while on inspection tours.
He also denied exploiting foreign staff, saying they were mostly volunteers who willingly joined him on his conservation trips.
Athapol said that he had finally decided to dismiss Siranudh, citing his “inappropriate” behaviour, including unauthorised activities, posting misleading content, and being confrontational towards tourists and local operators.
The DNP director-general said that although Siranudh had “good intentions”, his online campaign had damaged ties between park authorities and local communities. Siranudh responded by challenging Athapol to a televised debate, but the DNP chief declined the offer.
Siranudh has shrugged off Athapol’s claims, saying he did not need the post of adviser to expose problems plaguing Thailand’s seas. He also claimed tour operators in Krabi campaigned for his removal because he repeatedly reported their violations of park rules and regulations.
“I call it quits. My love for the sea will always come before my post,” he said. Following his departure from the DNP, the hashtags #savePsi and #returnPsitothesea began trending among his supporters.
Personal life
Siranudh is a Thai-Scottish environmentalist, artist and heir to one of Thailand’s most prominent business families – the Bhirombhakdis, founders of Boon Rawd Brewery and its Singha beer brand.
His grandfather, Chamnon Bhirombhakdi, the late chairman of Boon Rawd Brewery, was once ranked among Thailand’s richest individuals.
Siranudh reportedly has a distant relationship with his mother, following an incident in which her favourite assistant allegedly abused him as a child.
He says he found comfort in his mission to protect the ocean when he launched “Sea You Strong” at the age of 20. The campaign, which he funded, focuses on encouraging local communities to keep beaches clean.
In 2022, he launched “Merman”, a short film to promote the understanding and appreciation of marine ecosystems.
Siranudh holds a degree in animation from the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in the US and has admitted to having a soft spot for Disney animation and the music of Britney Spears.
