Phuket –
A second dugong was found dead on Kamala Beach on Wednesday (October 23rd).
The Kamala Police Chief Colonel Somsak Thongkleang told the Phuket Express that they were notified from patrol police that a large dugong was found dead in front of a hotel on the Kamala Beach in the morning.
The Thai Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) were contacted. The male dugong was two meters long and weighed about 100 kilograms. He died at least 24 hours prior to being found with several wounds found on him. He will be taken to the Sireetarn Marine Endangered Animal Rescue Center in Wichit to find the exact cause of death.
This is the second dugong recently found dead in Phuket after they were first spotted in Rawai. The first one was found dead in Mai Khao, Thalang.
The Phuket Express notes that the dugong is one of Thailand’s Reserved Animals which is nearly extinct. Trang Province is many dugong’s home due to having lots of sea grass.
Some dugongs have migrated to the waters of Krabi, Phang Nga, and Phuket. However, these areas are fraught with hazards, as the dugongs are unaccustomed to the busy marine traffic and the ongoing fishing operations.
Related articles:
https://thephuketexpress.com/2024/05/13/thailands-marine-tragedy-dugong-deaths-in-the-andaman-sea/
https://thephuketexpress.com/2024/09/02/fishing-banned-at-rawai-pier-after-dugongs-found/
