Patong Encouraging Loy Krathong Celebrations in Ponds Instead of the Sea and Help Protect Dugongs

Patong –

The Patong Municipality has announced on Thursday (November 14^th) to encourage people to float their Krathong on Friday (November 15^th) in a pond instead of the sea.

They state that in order to protect our environment, please avoid floating Krathongs in the sea. The Patong Municipality has provided an imitation pond at the Bangla Square on Patong Beach.

The Phuket Express noted that Krathongs are normally used to float in the sea at Patong Beach. However, environmental concerns have risen after many dugongs evacuated from nearby provinces to Phuket. At least three of them died recently.

Related articles:

In a concerning environmental development, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) of Thailand has reported the deaths of at least 20 dugongs in the Andaman Sea since the beginning of 2024.

Seagrass was placed in the Phuket ocean area to increase the food supply for Dugongs in Phuket after three of them were found dead in one month.

In total, 16 dugongs were found alive in Phuket recently.

Nearly 20 dugongs were recently spotted swimming into Pa Khlok Bay in Phuket to feed on seagrass and experimental food plots. Meanwhile, four dugongs were seen grazing on seagrass at Bang Kwan Bay and the Sarasin Bridge in Phang Nga.