Tracking the crisis of the last dugong herd as global warming causes the decline of "seagrass," their main food source, compounded by human threats and persistent superstitions, leading to continuous dugong deaths and fears they may ultimately survive only as a name in the Andaman Sea.
Every year, April 22 is recognized as "Earth Day." But less than two weeks before this year, Thailand found a dugong carcass with its head severed and chained underwater in Phang Nga Province on April 9, underscoring the ongoing critical threats to dugongs, a protected species.
The SEE TRUE news team has been following this story for over a year, monitoring behaviors and collecting data to observe changes in the last dugong herd in the Andaman Sea, seeking to understand the severity of the "dugong crisis" Thailand faces.
The "dugong" or "sea pig," or "sea cow," is a marine mammal and an indicator of the health of Thailand's marine ecosystems. Currently, the dugong population in the Andaman Sea likely numbers fewer than one hundred individuals. Captive breeding or artificial propagation for release has never been successfully done worldwide.
In 2024, a major dugong crisis occurred, with over 48 deaths—the highest in recorded history. In 2025, 25 more dugongs died, and on April 9 this year, another beheaded dugong carcass was found near Koh Yao Noi, Phang Nga. Though autopsy results indicated natural illness as the cause, this signals a dangerous warning for Thailand's marine environment.
Historically, about one dugong died per month, but in 2023-2024, the average rose to 3.75 deaths monthly—two to three times higher than usual. Approximately 60% died from illness caused by starvation, leading to infections, while 40% died from human activities such as propeller strikes, boat collisions, and accidental entanglement in fishing gear, excluding those hunted for tusks and tears used in superstitions.
The SEE TRUE team followed the migration path of the last Andaman dugong herd starting in December 2024, tracking their relocation from Koh Libong in Kantang District, Trang Province, known as the "dugong capital." In the past, hundreds of dugongs lived there, but when seagrass in Trang Province disappeared over thousands of rai due to dredging at the Trang River mouth, which caused sediment to smother the seagrass, only 3% remained—insufficient to sustain starving dugongs.
The team flew drones to survey waterways from Koh Libong to Koh Muk over several kilometers, hoping to spot dugongs, but encountered only empty seas.
following their life cycle. Adult dugongs require 13-16 rai of seagrass, covering at least 60% of an area, to survive adequately. But by 2024, such healthy seagrass was nearly absent in Trang, Krabi, and Satun, forcing dugongs to roam widely for food, leading to migration to new feeding grounds, including increased appearances in Phuket and Phang Nga Bay, where seagrass is also degrading in some areas. It can be said that "seagrass coverage at 60% is almost impossible to find now." Most dugongs have migrated north to gather in eastern Phuket and Phang Nga Bay, with the last area being Srisun, as beyond this lies an open coastline requiring a 45-kilometer swim to reach the seagrass beds at Thap Lamu. Dugongs can travel 20-30 km if necessary but prefer calm bays with abundant seagrass for continuous feeding, making reaching Thap Lamu difficult.
The new home for dugongs in Phuket is
"Ao Tang Ken," a small bay hidden within Mueang Phuket District, rich in seagrass. The team observed here for several days, recording images and flying drones, working alongside local officials and conservationists to avoid disturbance. "Miracle, Khao Yai, Khao Lek, Sleepy, Gecko, Piak, Casanova"
are names given by officials and conservationists to several dugongs to facilitate recognition, not counting transient dugongs visiting Ao Tang Ken regularly to feed on abundant seagrass. By late 2024, over 20 dugongs frequented this area.
Additionally, salt-tolerant seagrass plots have been planted to feed dugongs, toxic algae coverage is monitored to protect seagrass, and air temperature control schedules are managed during hot seasons to prevent seagrass die-offs. With food sources available, dugongs can survive.
"Beheading and Dugong Tears Used in Superstitions"
Recently, tragic news emerged when on April 9, 2026, a beheaded dugong carcass was found floating in the sea near Koh Yao Noi, Phang Nga, with its tail tied and weighted down by stones. Although autopsy confirmed death from illness, the mutilation to extract tusks for superstitious use persists, highlighting ongoing threats from such beliefs.
As referenced in the popular song
"Bungah Tan Yong," which mentions "dugong tears." These beliefs, especially in southern Thailand, hold that dugong tears are lucky charms. Historically, sorcerers would remove dugong calves from their mothers and strike the water surface to trick mothers into thinking their calves were harmed, causing them to shed tears. These tears would then be mixed with herbal oils and blessed with incantations to create talismans. In the past, villagers transformed dugong tusks and bones into amulets and sacred objects believed to ward off evil. Today, with dugongs protected, live hunting has shifted to beheading carcasses to obtain tusks for occult practices.
All these constitute the
"threats" hunting the last dugong herd in the Andaman Sea. Currently, academics and government agencies are intensifying seagrass restoration to increase dugong food sources, employing drones for surveys to ensure dugong habitats remain safe. Engaging local fishermen and citizen researchers is vital for monitoring dugong locations and reporting threats. Today, all sectors must unite to prevent the permanent disappearance of dugongs from Thailand's waters. Follow the SEE TRUE mission to reveal the truth, with continuous coverage from April 22-23, 2026, on Thairath News Show after 9:00 p.m.