Seven dugongs dead in 6 months in Thailand

Seven dugongs had been found dead during the past six months in Thailand's Andaman coastal waters. The causes of death are varied. The latest case is a five-year-old dugong weighing 122 kilogrammes which was found dead at a beach in Trang. According an autopsy, the dugong died of shock when it was caught in the nets of a fishing trawler.
Marine mammal academic Kanchana Adulyanukosol said that there are now only about 200 dugongs left in Thai-Andaman waters and urged the Thai government to protect them.

Currently, Ms. Kanchana said, a master plan to conserve sea cows and seagrass, which was its main diet, was drafted, but has yet been submitted to the Cabinet.

It was believed that if the scheme is implemented, it will help, in a certain extent, to preserve the sea cow population, she said.

Public awareness activities to realise the importance and seriousness of the dugongs' problems is necessary were also recommended, she said.

Full media article on wildsingapore news.

Related links

• Dead dugong in Phuket: entangled in fishing net? on the wild shores of singapore blog.
  
• Dugong slaughtered in Andamans Neha Sinha Indian Express 2 Jan 09;
• Nets leave their mark Thomas Chamberlin, The Cairns Post 26 Jan 09;
• Stranded sea cow saved by Filipino fishermen Associated Press 6 Jan 08;