Sharks have returned to Maya Bay in Thailand months after the tourist spot made famous by film The Beach was closed to the public.
Video footage posted by the Thai government shows a large number of blacktip reef sharks in the bay on Koh Phi Phi Lei island.
Authorities in Thailand confirmed in October that the bay would be permanently closed to the public.
Marine biologist Thon Thamrongnawasawat confirmed that the waters around the bay had improved on his Facebook account.
He said: “There are only a few bays suitable for black-tailed sharks but the humans took the bay away from the sharks.
“When we handed the bay back, dozens of black sharks returned. This is a clear signal. These sharks are very important to the eco-system. It’s a predator that helps the control the amount and fish in coral reefs.
With climate change, the environment of the world changes rapidly. A good ecosystem is needed to deal with natural disasters such as coral bleaching.
“The return of these sharks is important. Not only Maya Bay or Phi Phil islands but the coral reefs around. Hopefully they will stay with us for a long time.”
The spot on Ko Phi Phi Lei island was initially closed for four months in order for the bay to recover from the effects of tourism, however experts decided that it would need a longer time to recover, choosing to close the island indefinitely.
The bay was made famous by the 2,000 film The Beach, directed by Danny Boyle.
It’s become a bucket list location for those travelling to Thailand.
Environmentalists say that heavy traffic from boats and increasing numbers of visitors have damaged the beach and surrounding area’s ecosystem.
