KRABI/TRANG — Six adult dugongs have been discovered dead in the seas off Krabi and Trang provinces within the first four days of December, prompting an urgent response from Thailand’s Marine and Coastal Resources Department. The deaths are believed to be linked to starvation caused by the degradation of seagrass, the marine mammal’s primary food source.
Three carcasses were recovered off Krabi and three off Trang. All six were sent to the marine resources research center in Phuket for examination. Researchers reported abnormalities in the animals’ hearts and lungs and signs of prolonged malnutrition, leaving them weakened and vulnerable to disease.
In response, an emergency meeting will be held with experts from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to address the crisis. International specialists in seagrass rehabilitation will collaborate with Thai officials to develop strategies for restoring seagrass habitats and identifying alternative food sources for dugongs.
Officials note that the feeding grounds off Krabi, once spanning 1,220 hectares, have declined drastically, with only 25% of the seagrass remaining, most of it in poor condition. This loss has critically impacted the region’s dugong population, highlighting the need for urgent conservation efforts.
