Two more dugongs were discovered dead in the waters off Krabi Province in southern Thailand, raising the total number of dugong fatalities in the region to 15 over the past two months. Experts point to the rapid depletion of seagrass, the marine mammals’ primary food source, as the likely cause.
One of the carcasses was found floating in Chao Ooth Bay near Ko Lanta district by local fishermen, while the other was discovered off the coast of Nua Khlong district. Authorities report no visible injuries on the dugongs, reinforcing suspicions that starvation, driven by shrinking seagrass habitats, is to blame.
Of the 15 recent fatalities, four dugongs were found in Krabi waters, with an equal number reported in Phuket and Trang, and three more in Satun Province. This adds to a worrying trend observed over recent years. Marine expert Thon Thamrongnawasawat from Kasetsart University highlighted that while annual dugong deaths averaged 12 over the past decade, the number surged to 40 last year and has already reached 36 in the first 11 months of this year.
The steep decline in seagrass beds, linked to global warming and human activities, has left dugongs struggling to find adequate food. Ruangdet Klongdee, who leads a crab bank learning center in Ko Lanta district, urged urgent action from relevant authorities. He also noted that local communities are experimenting with cultivating seagrass in disused shrimp farms as a potential solution.
Efforts to preserve Thailand’s dugong population have drawn increasing attention, with stakeholders from scientific, environmental, and local communities calling for immediate conservation measures to address the habitat crisis threatening the species.
