Beach lovers in Sabah, be careful if you’re planning to take a dip in the sea! That’s because not only is the recent spell of hot, dry weather making us all sweaty but it also brings about the box jellyfish, or the killer jellyfish as it is commonly known.
Source: The Star
Based on a report by The Star, an expert said that this killer jellyfishes are expected to flood the waters of Sabah over the next four months as there are already some signs that the marine animals are popping up. Apparently, some of these marine life have been caught near the shores of Kota Kinabalu, where jellyfish has never been found before.
Meanwhile, some scientists from the Borneo Marine Research Institute in University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) said that the jellyfish caught there are from a species that has not been identified. It was previously thought that the species was Chironex yamaguchii but it was not. Just last Thursday (Feb 21), two more of these box jellyfishes were caught during a field trip.
Source: GMA Network
UMS Assoc Prof Dr B.A. Venmathi Maran expects that the Sabah waters will be invaded by the deadly jellyfish from March to June. “Beachgoers and swimmers should be careful when they are out at sea. They should know the danger of this type of jellyfish,” he explained.
The killer jellyfish is also transparent, which makes it harder for people to spot it and results in them getting stung. Maran warns that a blooming is expected and the population of killer jellyfish could be bigger than the last time around.
Source: Glogster
“The dry and hot weather allows them to spawn and between March and June, the species is expected to infest the Sabah waters,” Maran said. In case you didn’t know, the box jellyfish is deadly and can kill a human within minutes. It is at its most dangerous when it is hunting, as they can stretch their tentacles for a wider reach.
A marine scientist told The Star that the box jellyfish has 36 tentacles and each tentacle has 500,000 stinging cells on it. Sounds really painful! Travel and tour operators are prepared to handle this issue and have taken precautionary steps by arming themselves with vinegar and organising safety briefings for the tourists.
Source: The Star
A Sabah Parks official told The Star that they are monitoring the situation closely. “We will issue warnings on the potential jellyfish danger when we find that the areas at the park have been invaded. As a precaution, we may even make certain places off-limits to tourists if the situation warrants it,” he said.
If you happen to come into contact with the killer jellyfish, then immediately get out of the water and pour vinegar on the affected area. Do NOT scrape off the tentacles; instead, use a tweezer to remove it and get medical attention immediately, WebMD advises.
Take note guys and be careful when you’re in the sea!
Also read: Tourist Dies in Pulau Langkawi Just Minutes After Getting Stung By Jellyfish
