The Andaman Coast in Thailand is home to one of the largest populations of dugongs, also known as “sea cows,” in the world. However, in recent years, more and more dead or stranded dugongs have been washing ashore, and experts estimate that the Andaman Coast population may have fallen by more than half.
Theerapak Sakritawee, a local photographer known as “Pop,” has been documenting the plight of the dugongs through captivating drone images. He hopes to share more about these marine mammals with his 26,000 followers on Instagram, building a social movement to champion their protection. “Many people, when they think of conservation, focus on sea turtles and dolphins,” he says. “Some people can’t even tell where a dugong’s eyes are.”
The reason for the decline in the dugong population is troubling and points to a larger biodiversity crisis in the oceans. The bulk of the Andaman Coast population typically resides in the waters of Trang province, where there are abundant seagrass meadows. However, much of this seagrass has died in recent years, forcing the dugongs to travel farther in search of food.
Scientists are unsure of the exact cause of the massive seagrass die-off, but they believe it is likely a combination of shifting environmental factors, such as reduced light reaching the seagrass due to silt in the water, pollution, dredging, more dissolved nutrients in the system, extreme sea temperatures, and elevated daytime tidal exposure.
The UN’s high seas treaty, which entered into force at the weekend, offers some hope for tackling the complex crises happening in our oceans. The agreement aims to legally protect and sustainably manage marine life in the two-thirds of the ocean that lie beyond national jurisdiction, helping to meet a global goal of protecting 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.
As I travelled to Phuket’s old town, I searched among the keyrings and shell jewellery for anything resembling a dugong, hoping to see signs that the animals were beginning to gain cultural cache in this tourist hotspot. In the end, I managed to turn up just one pin for sale featuring a cartoonish dugong – with clearly visible eyes.
