PHUKET: Dugongs are dying in record numbers and will be wiped out along the Andaman coast if the slaughter continues, a senior marine biologist warned today.
''So far this year, 12 dugong are dead,'' said Dr Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong of the Phuket Marine Biological Centre, based on Phuket's east coast.
Between 135 and 150 large, harmless dugong roam the Andaman coast off Trang, Satun, Phuket and Phang Nga but continuation of deaths at this year's rate will see this at-risk population wiped out within a decade.
For its tireless work at the forefront of marine conservation, this year's Phuketwan Best of Phuket Award for environmental excellence goes to the centre and its staff.
The battle to save the dugongs, dolphins, turtles and whales of the Andaman coast is being lost - but it has to be fought for all kinds of good reasons.
Dr Kongkiat says the centre only has four or five staff specialising in the environment but they are dedicated and do their best.
''We don't have enough staff or budget,'' he said today. ''We also don't have enough tanks in which to keep injured marine animals.''
Over the past 12 months, time and again the biological centre has been called in to try to restore sick and injured animals to health.
''We can't do it on our own,'' he said. ''Everybody needs to help.''
He said that turtles appeared to have abandoned Phuket entirely for laying eggs. Patong and southern beaches have only seen sick or dying turtles.
''Even on Mai Khao, which is in relatively good condition,'' the turtles have gone,'' Dr Kongkiat said.
''Mostly it's plastic bags and fishing nets that kill the turtles. With the dugongs, plastic bags are not a problem because they eat sea grass and do not confuse the bags with food.''
The dugongs, though, are now under greatest threat and more than 80 percent of deaths of dugong are connected to fishing.
A dugong died on Phuket earlier this year after being struck repeatedly by a boat propeller.
The environmental award is the first this year in the annual series of awards made by Phuketwan since it was launched in 2008.
More Best of Phuket awards are to be made this week. The environmental award began two years ago.
''So far this year, 12 dugong are dead,'' said Dr Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong of the Phuket Marine Biological Centre, based on Phuket's east coast.
Between 135 and 150 large, harmless dugong roam the Andaman coast off Trang, Satun, Phuket and Phang Nga but continuation of deaths at this year's rate will see this at-risk population wiped out within a decade.
For its tireless work at the forefront of marine conservation, this year's Phuketwan Best of Phuket Award for environmental excellence goes to the centre and its staff.
The battle to save the dugongs, dolphins, turtles and whales of the Andaman coast is being lost - but it has to be fought for all kinds of good reasons.
Dr Kongkiat says the centre only has four or five staff specialising in the environment but they are dedicated and do their best.
''We don't have enough staff or budget,'' he said today. ''We also don't have enough tanks in which to keep injured marine animals.''
Over the past 12 months, time and again the biological centre has been called in to try to restore sick and injured animals to health.
''We can't do it on our own,'' he said. ''Everybody needs to help.''
He said that turtles appeared to have abandoned Phuket entirely for laying eggs. Patong and southern beaches have only seen sick or dying turtles.
''Even on Mai Khao, which is in relatively good condition,'' the turtles have gone,'' Dr Kongkiat said.
''Mostly it's plastic bags and fishing nets that kill the turtles. With the dugongs, plastic bags are not a problem because they eat sea grass and do not confuse the bags with food.''
The dugongs, though, are now under greatest threat and more than 80 percent of deaths of dugong are connected to fishing.
A dugong died on Phuket earlier this year after being struck repeatedly by a boat propeller.
The environmental award is the first this year in the annual series of awards made by Phuketwan since it was launched in 2008.
More Best of Phuket awards are to be made this week. The environmental award began two years ago.
Editor and staff - thankyou for continuing to highlight the work done by this organisation, and the environmental impact of continued development on Phuket. Best regards for 2013.
Posted by Glenn on December 25, 2012 06:36