Dugong First Spotted in Rawai

Rawai –

A dugong was first sighted in Rawai, south of Phuket on Tuesday (August 20^th).

The dugong which is about 1.5 to 1.8 meters long was spotted in the morning near the Rawai Pier. The Phuket marine expert Dr. Kongkiet Kittiwattanawong told the Phuket Express that seagrass was first reported to have been found four years ago in Rawai. There were no dugongs in this area before.

This is very important for environmental challenges in Phuket to ensure the survival of the endangered dugong species. Dugongs are unaccustomed to the busy marine traffic and the ongoing fishing operations, he added.

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Trang, known as a traditional habitat for dugongs, is facing a decline in seagrass beds. Some dugongs have migrated to the waters of Krabi and Phang Nga. Phuket is one of ten areas for intensified monitoring and conservation efforts to protect the remaining dugong.