Thread: Last dugong found dead in the Gulf?

The carcass of a male dugong found in the sea between Thalu and Mun islands off Rayong province on November 25 may be the last of this mammal in the Gulf of Thailand, said Mr Poommet Chumchart, a veterinarian attached to the marine and coastal resources research and development centre, said on Friday.

He disclosed that he found bruises all over the body of the dugong, but no trawl net traces or traces that it might have been attacked with external force. However, he said that when he cut up the body for more examination, he found out that there were traces of internal inflammation and bruises of the muscles throughout the body.

The veterinarian suspected that the 2.63 metre long adult dugong might have been struck with a hard object before its death, but he could not figure out what was the hard object.

He went on saying that closer examination found traces of sea grass in the stomach of the dead dugong, suggesting that the animal was grazing before its death.

From the record of dugongs collected during the past three decades, Mr Poommet said that the dead dugong was codenamed DU-391 or the 391st dugong ever registered.

Divers from the centre will examine the sea grass coastline to find out the traces of sea grass grazing which is unique for each individual dugong. If there are now traces of sea grass graving, it will raise the hope that there are still some dugongs left in the sea, said the vet.

Meanwhile, Mr Thon Thamrongnavasawat, a lecturer at the Marine Science Department of Kasetsart University, wrote in his Facebook page that it was not enough for dugong to be declared a protected species because many dugongs died unnatural deaths, including the latest dugong.

Last dugong found dead in the Gulf? |

Sad news. Another of mans fuck ups no doubt.

Makes me feel sad for future of all the wild animals in the world. They hardly have a chance against humans and there are more and more of us everyday.




The research center revealed that there were previously a couple of dugongs living along the coast of Rayong to Chanthaburi. Last year, there was a rumor that one of them was dead and sold on the black market. Therefore, this means the dead dugong found last week could have been the last one on the eastern coast.

Polluted oceans endanger their lives but dugongs are also hunted for their bones, which are used to make amulets, just like elephant ivory and rhino snout.

Last dugong in Gulf of Thailand found dead | Coconuts Bangkok

We have a zillion of them in our Marine Parks.

Only the Aboriginals are allowed to hunt them.

Should we send a dozen or two over?


Poor bugger ... the last one know to be grazing the waters ... must have been a lonely life.

.

There's plenty in Phang Nga.

Maybe they just aren't suited to the Gulf any more, they live in shallow coastal waters which have probably been overexploited for prawn farms or polluted to shit.