The distinguished biologist Jesada Denduangboripant, associated with the Department of Biology at the Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, has received a challenge from Boonma Punduang, the Mayor of Bueng Kan, to substantiate the Naga Fireballs phenomenon. In response to this challenge, Jesada has suggested an alternative scientific approach and has dismissed the need for a 1 million baht bet.
Jesada Denduangboripant, a well-respected figure in the field of biology, recently shared his thoughts on the annual occurrence of Naga Fireballs, which typically manifest around the time of Buddhist Lent. This phenomenon has been a subject of much discussion and conjecture.
Contrary to the commonly held belief, Jesada argues that the fireballs do not result from gases igniting on the water’s surface. Following these remarks, Boonma Punduang, the Mayor of Bueng Kan, challenged Jesada to provide concrete evidence for his theory and proposed a 1 million baht bet, stating that he would concede if Jesada could substantiate his scientific analysis.
In response, Jesada shared the news and accepted the challenge, stating, “I appreciate their proposal to prove the Naga Fireballs, but there’s no need for any wager or prize money.” He cited his financial constraints as a civil servant and instead recommended a different approach – a well-planned collaborative investigation for the following year. Jesada extended an invitation to the local community, the media, and interested parties to bring their cameras and extensively document the event.
He also suggested that if the Naga Fireballs were not visible in Bueng Kan, they could consider another location where they are more abundant, such as Ratthanawapi’s Phaya Naga Yard. Jesada proposed that half of the team could capture the phenomenon from the Thai side, while the other half could do so from the Laotian side. He even proposed the use of drones for an aerial perspective.
Jesada expressed confidence that with sustained efforts over one or two years, they could obtain valuable scientific information for further study. He concluded his message by inviting the mayor to contact him at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, to schedule the investigation for the following ye
