many people believe
When you see the news that
"
little dugongs" on Koh Lang Tao have died, you must feel quite sad.
The more people who work in conservation like Dr. Thon Thamrongnawasawat
Marine and Environment and Marine Scholars
Lecturer, Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University
Also came out to post a sad story that two dugongs died at about the same time, a female dugong whose carcass was found in September.
Before finding another one in December, which is expected to be the
"mother" of "Dong Tan"
, a young dugong who found the remains on February 2, in which Ajarn Thon predicted from the beginning that it might will not survive
But... before the
little dugong "Dong Tan"
dies, there is a clip of the little dugong swimming on the back of a turtle.
It is an impressive picture showing off its cuteness to the eyes of the world.
Ms. Chalatip Chanchomphu, Director of the Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center in the Gulf of Thailand
Said to the Thai Rath online news team that from the observation of the fuselage, it is believed that the little dugong, Dong Tan, may be less than 1 year old because it was predicted from the fuselage.
It should have been less than 120 cm long, weighing about 80 kg, however, would have to wait for the autopsy to be thorough again that
the cause of death came from what exactly?
but as far as preliminary physical examination
no serious wounds
“Usually baby dugongs are less than 1 year old and need to be breastfed. But if there is no mother's milk to eat can find sea grass to eat Considering its size, it is expected that it will not lack food. However, without a mother to look after The chances of survival are very small if you observe carefully the behavior of the younger swimming with the turtle. It will show that he wants safety mother's touch"
However, this behavior
It is normal for "social animals" to express themselves in coexistence.
Both small and large animals
in which young animals are shown
Director of the Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center in the Gulf of Thailand reveals that
if it is a large "dugong" like its mother, she also likes to play with turtles, but if it is a small animal or an animal that needs closeness.
dugong baby
He will want more, however, studies have shown that dugongs and turtles are already this close…
The situation of dugongs in Thailand, the Andaman Sea, and the Gulf of Thailand are worrisome.
As for the situation of dugongs in Thailand, Ms. Chalatip gave information that there are estimated that there are about 280 dugongs in Thailand, most of them in the Andaman Sea, especially in Trang Province, while in the Gulf of Thailand.
is called very few
which has a chance to be found from Chonburi Province to Trat Province
From the survey, the clarity of the dugong population is very difficult to do because we rarely find dugongs empirically.
But we also study traces of eating "sea grass" or otherwise known as
In fact, it is difficult to observe because apart from dugongs, there are other animals such as turtles or fishing gears, boat anchors, but dugong eating marks are unique.
which the researchers of the Department of Fisheries
can be distinguished
But from the assessment
It is estimated that the entire Gulf of Thailand found may not exceed 10 of which 10 of which do not have photographs or empirical encounters.
But we surveyed by interviewing villagers.
data from grazing
The reason why there are few dugongs in the Gulf of Thailand why
Director of Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center of the Gulf of Thailand
Said to be caused by many factors, especially "food sources" or "sea grass"
Ms. Chalatip said that
in the area on the eastern coast of the sea, there is no "sea grass" that looks like a large plot. For example, Chonburi province has less than 5,000 rai of land where the grass is spread.
When the grass spreads
A tricky journey is required.
This is different from the Andaman coast in the area "Libong", Trang Province, where there are large seagrass beds.
causing a lot of dugongs to live in that area
However, from a survey of "sea grass" data, it was found that in the past 10 years, the area of sea grass in the Gulf of Thailand has decreased considerably.
together with interviews with villagers
Data on dugong encounters 15 years ago, it was expected that dugongs at that time
more than present
However
, dugongs can migrate to find food.
but...whenever
where females become pregnant and have children
Traveling poses a risk of danger, so female dugongs choose to live in the area.
when collecting data
marine researcher
Therefore, it is speculated that the reason why dugongs in the Gulf of Thailand are less than in the past is due to the factor of "food", i.e. less "sea grass".
Why did the "sea grass" in the Gulf of Thailand disappear?
Ms. Chalatip explains to show a simple picture, that "sea grass" is like a "tree", only grows in the sea. Growth factors
It needs sunlight as a nutrient whenever there is a lot of sediment in the water, resulting in turbid water.
sunlight does not reach
the grass did not grow
or if the sediment goes down a lot and is crushed
It can cause the sea grass to die.
“All environmental problems are interconnected.
whenever
when there is wastewater
Or even fresh water that comes from rain, sea grass will grow slowly.
because he wants salt water
All factors come from nature and humans, affecting the integrity of the sea grass.”
If "oil leaks" into the sea, known as a sudden emergency situation, the sea grass, despite being resistant to various environments, but the sea grass is toxic from toxins as well.
and when sea creatures come to eat grass
Will get toxins and die while "sea grass" is "coated with oil
It may take time to decompose and recover.
Opportunities for "dugongs" are not left in the "Gulf of Thailand"
The news team asked honestly.
In the near future, does dugong have a chance that there will be no more left in the Gulf of Thailand?
marine life in the Gulf of Thailand
There is much less genetic diversity than the Andaman, indicating that
It is a very small population group, called "few left" until they have to urgently manage the problem....the remaining group is very small.
making it difficult to meet
and may not produce offspring
Conversely, even though the "Andaman" side has a variety of genetics
But the more you need to take special care.
because of some genetics
There is only one place in the world, especially "dugong" that Libong considers dugong.
with a special "specific"
while in the Gulf of Thailand, the number of samples is very small ... very few
In academics, there is an opportunity to "disappear" from the Gulf of Thailand because after working for 15 years, there is a chance to meet only 1 dugong alive, the rest from being a carcass, which has been found 1 dugong previously. In 2022, he met a dugong. Mother is 2 carcasses and the latest one
“Even though dugongs have disappeared from the Gulf of Thailand, there is still hope deep down because we see the dugong cubs coming from this crisis. and another opportunity that is hoped We see seagrass beds in the deep waters.”
What is the cause of the death of dugongs?
What is the cause of death of "dugongs"? Ms. Chalatip gave information that there are 2 main causes.
1. Causes caused by human activities, such as being hit by a boat, stuck in a fishing gear.
2. Sick by nature, such as being very old, causing various diseases such as bloodstream infections,
for example, in 2 cases in 2022, there were signs of injuries, being hit.
Future conservation plan for dugongs
For future plans, Ms. Chalatip said that the Department of Natural Resources and Coastal Resources has a plan for "National Dugong Conservation", which is
1. Further research
by wanting to clearly assess the dugong population.
2. Protect and take care of the food source. In the past, "sea grass" has not been protected like coral reefs.
3. Qualitative reconnaissance
Use more technology to explore.
4. Drive public relations in participation with the public sector.
It will drive 13 places where dugongs have been found.
Including building a dugong learning center
“In the past, the Department tried to drive various plans.
without affecting the way of life of villagers and communities
Emphasis is placed on everyone working together to conserve dugongs.”
Thai Rath online news team reported
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