Picture courtesy of SiamRath.

 

Phang Nga Bay National Park has installed warning buoys to slow down boat traffic in an effort to protect dugongs and other endangered marine animals in the area.

 

Park Chief Paphawin Yanglang, along with Assistant Chief Kawee Naowakun and a central patrol unit, placed markers around Koh Phra Ad Thao and nearby waters, which are believed to be key feeding grounds for dugongs. The move follows a recent drone survey on 21 August by the Marine National Park Research Centre (Region 2, Phuket), which confirmed the presence of a healthy dugong grazing on seagrass in the area.

 

Mr Paphawin said the measure was necessary to reduce the risk of boat strikes on dugongs, which are among Thailand’s most vulnerable marine species.

 

“The national park is prioritising the protection of dugongs and rare marine life. After the confirmed sighting of a dugong at Koh Phra Ad Thao, we installed warning buoys to remind boats to slow down in seagrass zones and along the dugongs’ migration routes,” he explained.

 

In addition to the buoy installation, park officers conducted further drone surveys of surrounding seagrass meadows to collect data for long-term conservation planning.

 

The initiative is part of wider efforts to preserve the fragile marine ecosystem of Phang Nga Bay, home to dugongs, sea turtles and several other threatened species.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from SiamRath 2025-08-29

 

 

 

Oh...this is novel...can Dugong read:))