Photo credit: Picasso
Phuket province in southern Thailand has set a road map for protecting about thirty dugongs that have migrated from the coasts of Trang and Krabi to areas around Rawal Beach. The dugong is a marine mammal and is one of the four living species in the order of Sirenia, which also includes three species of manatees.
Bangkok Post reports that Phuket governor Sophon Suwanrat chaired a meeting on Wednesday with parties, including the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, to discuss how to care for the dugongs.
The governor said, “We will form a working group and a patrol unit together with the DMCR. The Marine and Coastal Resources Office will map the dugong sighting locations and fishing net-prohibited zones to keep the dugongs from being entangled in any nests, which could result in their death.”
The Marine Department, The Fisheries Department, and the Provincial Natural Resources and Environmental Office will help inform the public, mainly fishermen, tour operators and those who offer speedboat services, to be especially careful in those areas.
The province will set up a Line group called “Love Phuket Dugongs”. Anyone can join and provide updated information whenever they spot a dugong around the island.
The DMCR also said it will start planning seagrass and rind alternative food sources for them. According to Mr Sophon, the committee plans to build enclosures in the sea in a designated area to care for sick dugongs.
Each dugong will be named based on its physical characteristics. The names will be used to record data and track their location.
