Herd of dugongs sighted off the coast of Thai island | Inquirer Technology

Herd of dugongs sighted off the coast of Thai island

/ 07:06 PM April 26, 2020

dugong

This aerial view photo shows dugongs sunning themselves beneath clear turquoise waters off the coast of southern Libong island. Image: Thailand’s National Marine Park Operation Center via AFP

Mesmerizing aerial images showed a herd of more than 30 dugongs drifting serenely off the coast of a Thai island on Wednesday.

Thailand’s tourism industry has taken a battering since the outbreak of the coronavirus, putting millions out of jobs after the pandemic paralyzed global travel.

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But the slowdown in visitor foot traffic has brought a wildlife revival along shorelines and waterways, including reports this week of record numbers of leatherback turtle nests on the country’s deserted beaches.

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Drone images released by the National Marine Park Operation Center showed the dugongs sunning themselves beneath clear turquoise waters off the coast of southern Libong island.

The slow-moving sea creatures, closely related to the manatee, are classified as a vulnerable species.

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Thailand has not always been a safe haven for wildlife, with plastic waste choking marine life and water pollution from boat traffic damaging habitats.

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Last year, an orphaned baby dugong was found stranded on a beach in southern Thailand, winning hearts nationwide as conservationists fought to keep it alive.

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It died months later from an infection worsened by bits of rubbish lining its stomach, reviving the public debate on Thailand’s urgent need to tackle its plastic addiction. RGA

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TOPICS: coronavirus, dugong, mammals, Pollution, Thailand
TAGS: coronavirus, dugong, mammals, Pollution, Thailand

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