PUBLISHED: 18 Nov 2024 at 18:18
A recent dugong sighting turned tragic as another dugong was found dead in Krabi on Sunday. The Natural Resources and Environment Minister has instructed officials to take immediate action to address the growing crisis of dugong deaths.
Reports indicate that the carcass of a female dugong washed ashore on Si Boya Island. Preliminary investigations revealed the animal was one meter long and lacked fangs, suggesting it had not reached maturity, despite showing bite marks attributed to interactions with other dugongs.
The carcass has been dispatched to the Lower Andaman Sea Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre for detailed examination.
This incident marks the second dugong death along the Krabi coast within a month, following the discovery of an adult female on November 8.
Authorities have reported that at least 35 dugongs have died in the Andaman Sea this year alone. The Natural Resources Minister has expressed serious concern over this escalating crisis, attributing the surge in dugong fatalities to the significant decline of seagrass, their primary food source.
Once rich in seagrass, Trang province now faces critical depletion, with essential habitats like Hat Chao Mai National Park and Moo Koh Libong Marine Park Reserve seeing reductions of nearly 50% compared to previous years.
In response, the ministry has mandated immediate action from relevant departments to develop a robust strategy for dugong protection and recovery. Initiatives include seagrass restoration, supplementary feeding, and the establishment of recovery ponds, along with training sessions for effective dugong rescue.
The minister urged swift implementation of these measures to safeguard the remaining dugong population from further decline. He also intends to monitor the situation personally following his participation in the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference.
Marine experts are calling for increased awareness about the dugong crisis on international platforms, highlighting that 72 dugongs have died in the last two years due to dwindling seagrass along Thailand’s coastlines, particularly in Trang, Krabi, and Satun.
The dugong fatality rate in the region has escalated dramatically, rising from one per month seven years ago to 3.75 per month this year. Experts predict that, if current trends continue, dugongs could vanish entirely from the Andaman Sea within the next four to five years.
