Our oceans are in crisis, and Thailand's beloved 'sea cows' are sending us a dire warning. These gentle giants, known as dugongs, are washing up dead or stranded along the Andaman Coast, a region once home to a thriving dugong population. Experts fear the population has plummeted by more than half, leaving us with a haunting question: what's happening beneath the waves?
I embarked on a journey to Phuket, following the trailblazing work of filmmakers Mailee Osten-Tan and Nick Axelrod, who have been shedding light on Thailand's dugong crisis through a powerful Guardian documentary. But here's where it gets controversial: the very presence of dugongs in Phuket is a cause for concern, indicating a larger biodiversity emergency in our seas.
As I delved deeper into this story, I uncovered a web of interconnected issues. From the melting ice sheets of Antarctica to the charming yet mysterious axolotls, each piece of the puzzle adds to the urgency of our environmental challenges. And this is the part most people miss: the struggles of marine life often remain hidden until their lifeless bodies wash ashore.
Enter Theerasak Saksritawee, known as Pop, a local photographer with a mission. Through captivating drone images, Pop is documenting the plight of dugongs and sharing their story with his 26,000 Instagram followers. He aims to build a social movement, raising awareness and championing the protection of these often-overlooked creatures.
But why are dugongs in Phuket in the first place? It's a troubling sign. Normally, the majority of the Andaman Coast's dugong population resides in the waters of Trang province, where abundant seagrass meadows provide a bountiful feast. However, much of that seagrass has died in recent years, forcing dugongs to venture further in search of food.
I've reported extensively on the fourth global mass coral bleaching event, which has devastated reefs worldwide. So, it was intriguing to learn that scientists had considered the impact of sea temperature on Thailand's seagrass die-off. Could the same factors that affected corals be at play here?
While sea temperatures in Thailand's Andaman Sea were cooler than normal in 2023, by mid-2024, they reached unseasonably high levels. Yet, the dugong strandings and deaths had already become a tragic norm. Scientists believe a combination of environmental shifts is to blame: reduced light due to silt, pollution, dredging, excess nutrients, extreme temperatures, and increased tidal exposure.
One glimmer of hope lies in the UN's high seas treaty, which aims to protect and sustainably manage marine life in international waters, covering two-thirds of our oceans. This treaty is a crucial step towards achieving the global goal of protecting 30% of the world's oceans by 2030.
As I explored Phuket's old town during the high season, I searched for signs of dugong cultural cache among the tourist trinkets. A single pin featuring a cartoonish dugong with visible eyes gave me a glimmer of hope. Perhaps, as Pop suggested, increasing awareness and cultural appreciation could be a key to their protection.
The fate of Thailand's dugongs is a microcosm of the larger environmental challenges we face. It's a story that deserves our attention and action. So, what do you think? Should we prioritize the protection of these gentle giants, or are there other pressing environmental issues that demand our immediate focus? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
