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 

read interesting articles 

Where does the toxic dust PM 2.5 in Bangkok come from? Open the solution of Bangkok.

The Great Battle of the Gods

Buddha and the essence of Buddhism

Deciphering the Great Battle of the Gods

Combinations for Targeted Attraction

Arrest "E-Cigarettes" Taiwanese actors contradicting the law

exploit loopholes?