March 16, 2025 – Thailand’s dugongs face a critical survival crisis as seagrass meadows, their primary food source, disappear at alarming rates. A surge in dugong deaths recorded in 2023 and 2024 has pushed marine conservationists into emergency response mode, highlighting the urgent need to restore these vital underwater ecosystems.

Dugong Deaths on the Rise

Marine veterinarian Piyarat Khumraksa discovered a dramatic increase in dugong mortality while analyzing five years of government data. Dugong deaths nearly quadrupled from the usual 13 per year to 45 in 2024, marking an unprecedented decline. Many of the stranded dugongs were emaciated, suggesting starvation due to habitat loss.

“We first noticed problems with seagrass five years ago, but it became critical in 2023 and 2024,” Khumraksa said. “Dugongs have migrated for the first time to Phuket, Phang Nga, and Ranong in search of food.”

A Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) survey estimated that Thailand had 273 dugongs in 2022, but based on recorded deaths alone, up to a third of the population may already be lost.

Seagrass Vanishing at an Alarming Rate

Seagrass, once abundant in Trang, Krabi, and Satun provinces, has nearly vanished. In Ao Nammao Bay, Krabi, coverage plummeted from 60% to just 1% by 2024. Researchers link the decline to climate change-driven factors, including:

Unusually low tides, exposing seagrass to excessive heat.
Shifts in oceanic climate patterns, possibly linked to El Niño and La Niña.
Grazing pressure from other marine species, crowding into the few remaining seagrass habitats.

DMCR Director-General Pinsak Suraswadi: “Seagrass degradation at this scale is unprecedented. We suspect climate oscillations are responsible, but more research is needed.”

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Emergency Conservation Efforts

In November 2024, Thai authorities launched a four-part emergency response plan:

Dugong population tracking and migration studies.
Seagrass restoration in affected areas.
Exploring alternative food sources, such as leafy vegetables.
Investigating additional conservation measures, including feeding shelters.

However, past seagrass restoration attempts have proven difficult, as strong currents, marine animal interference, and fishing activities disrupt new growth. Scientists warn that without identifying the root cause of the die-off, restoration alone may not be enough.

A Race Against Time

Dugongs are classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, one step away from being endangered. With hunting pressures reduced, habitat loss remains the greatest threat to their survival. Experts emphasize that if Thailand’s seagrass meadows do not recover, dugongs may not have a future in the region.

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