Bangkok Seatizens : Thailand’s beloved dugongs face a crisis, leading Deputy Prime Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong to convene an urgent meeting. Between October 1 and November 5, ten dugongs died in Thailand due to malnutrition, starvation, and fishing net entanglements. Officials are accelerating surveys to address these issues.
According To Thaiger : Deputy PM Prasert disclosed a worrying decline in the dugong population, dropping from 280 last year to just 267 this year. Department Chief Pinsak Surasawadi emphasized the loss of 24,149 rai of seagrass beds in Krabi, Trang, and Satun, which are vital for dugongs. In response, dugongs have been migrating to Phuket and Phang Nga in search of new feeding grounds. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Chaloemchai Sri-on has called for a strong dugong protection plan to address this crisis.
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Thailand Implements Urgent Measures to Save Dugongs
The Bangkok Post reports that Thailand is implementing urgent measures to save its dugongs. Authorities are conducting training courses in basic dugong rescue for local communities, equipping villagers with resources to assist stranded animals, and using oceanographic models to identify danger zones. They are also establishing recovery ponds to curb species loss.
Innovatively, the department is testing alternative food sources for dugongs that mimic seagrass chemistry, such as morning glory and seaweed. At Phuket’s Rawai Beach, a pilot project saw the sea mammals eagerly consuming the vegetables provided, offering a glimmer of hope.
Despite this promising development, Mr. Pinsak emphasizes that these substitutes are merely supplements, highlighting the critical need for seagrass bed restoration.
As Thailand mobilizes to protect its iconic sea mammals, the nation faces a race against time and tide to ensure these gentle giants do not disappear from their centuries-old habitat.
(Beam Chayapon)
