Thailand's 'Sea Cows' are Washing Ashore: A Canary in the Coal Mine for Our Oceans?
The usually tranquil waters of Thailand's Andaman Coast have become a scene of horror as the bodies of once-thriving dugongs, affectionately known as 'sea cows', continue to wash up on shore. With an estimated 273 dugongs calling this region home just two years ago, the drastic decline in their numbers is sending shockwaves through the conservation community.
The plight of these gentle giants serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact human activities are having on our oceans. As Theerasak Saksritawee, aka 'Pop', a local photographer who has been documenting the decline of dugongs via his captivating drone images, aptly puts it: "Many people, when they think of conservation, focus on sea turtles and dolphins... Some people can't even tell where a dugong's eyes are." It's a stark contrast to the plight of these magnificent creatures.
The cause of this catastrophic decline is multifaceted. Rising temperatures have led to seagrass die-offs, which in turn has forced these marine mammals to venture further out into the ocean in search of sustenance. While Thailand's Andaman Sea experienced unusually cool temperatures in 2023, the situation took a drastic turn by mid-2024, with high temperatures and excessive tidal exposure contributing to the woes.
The relationship between climate change and seagrass die-offs is complex, with siltation, pollution, and human activities such as dredging playing a significant role. One scientist mentioned that reduced light reaching the seagrass due to silt in the water, coupled with increased dissolved nutrients, have likely contributed to the die-off.
The UN's high seas treaty has entered into force at the weekend, offering a glimmer of hope for tackling these complex crises. This agreement aims to protect and sustainably manage marine life beyond national jurisdiction, aiming to meet the global goal of 30% ocean protection by 2030.
As Phuket begins to enter its high season, it's clear that dugongs are slowly gaining cultural cache in this tourist hotspot. However, their fate remains precarious as shops now offer pin badges featuring cartoonish dugongs with – for once – visible eyes. Will the public's growing awareness of these majestic creatures be enough to protect them?
It seems that if we're lucky, Thailand's 'sea cows' will become a beacon for change, forcing us all to acknowledge the gravity of our actions and take concrete steps towards preserving our planet's precious marine life.
The usually tranquil waters of Thailand's Andaman Coast have become a scene of horror as the bodies of once-thriving dugongs, affectionately known as 'sea cows', continue to wash up on shore. With an estimated 273 dugongs calling this region home just two years ago, the drastic decline in their numbers is sending shockwaves through the conservation community.
The plight of these gentle giants serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact human activities are having on our oceans. As Theerasak Saksritawee, aka 'Pop', a local photographer who has been documenting the decline of dugongs via his captivating drone images, aptly puts it: "Many people, when they think of conservation, focus on sea turtles and dolphins... Some people can't even tell where a dugong's eyes are." It's a stark contrast to the plight of these magnificent creatures.
The cause of this catastrophic decline is multifaceted. Rising temperatures have led to seagrass die-offs, which in turn has forced these marine mammals to venture further out into the ocean in search of sustenance. While Thailand's Andaman Sea experienced unusually cool temperatures in 2023, the situation took a drastic turn by mid-2024, with high temperatures and excessive tidal exposure contributing to the woes.
The relationship between climate change and seagrass die-offs is complex, with siltation, pollution, and human activities such as dredging playing a significant role. One scientist mentioned that reduced light reaching the seagrass due to silt in the water, coupled with increased dissolved nutrients, have likely contributed to the die-off.
The UN's high seas treaty has entered into force at the weekend, offering a glimmer of hope for tackling these complex crises. This agreement aims to protect and sustainably manage marine life beyond national jurisdiction, aiming to meet the global goal of 30% ocean protection by 2030.
As Phuket begins to enter its high season, it's clear that dugongs are slowly gaining cultural cache in this tourist hotspot. However, their fate remains precarious as shops now offer pin badges featuring cartoonish dugongs with – for once – visible eyes. Will the public's growing awareness of these majestic creatures be enough to protect them?
It seems that if we're lucky, Thailand's 'sea cows' will become a beacon for change, forcing us all to acknowledge the gravity of our actions and take concrete steps towards preserving our planet's precious marine life.
it's like a canary in a coal mine for our oceans... they're already basically gone so what else is gonna happen? rising temps are causing seagrass die-offs and these gentle giants are having to venture further out into the ocean. I mean, I'm glad people are talking about this but let's be real, it's not like we haven't known about climate change for years... now that the UN's treaty has entered into force maybe we'll actually do something about it? 
pin badges with visible eyes are cute, though 
. It's crazy how we can just keep stressing them out with our pollution, siltation, and whatnot. And it's not just that - the fact that people don't even know where their eyes are is wild 
. I mean, I get it, we're busy living life and stuff, but come on, we gotta take care of our oceans, you know? 
The UN treaty is a step in the right direction, but we need to be more proactive, like, now 
. Can we please make some changes before Phuket's high season makes things even worse?! 
it's so sad what's happening to those dugongs, like they just disappear from nowhere, and now they're washing up on shore... some people care, but others don't even know where their eyes are lol... 
. We need to take immediate action to reduce our carbon footprint and protect these amazing sea creatures. It's crazy how we can be so oblivious to the impact we're having on the environment 
. I'm glad there's a glimmer of hope with the UN's high seas treaty, but it's gonna take some serious awareness and change from us all 
seagrass die-offs are a major issue - I remember our marine biology teacher mentioning how siltation and pollution can harm the ecosystem... 
this whole situation is giving me some serious anxiety 
but at least there's hope with the UN's high seas treaty entering into force? 
maybe we'll finally see some real change in 2030 
I'm literally shook by all the human activities that contribute to this mess - dredging, pollution, siltation... it's like, we gotta take responsibility for our actions 
And yeah, the UN's high seas treaty is a great step forward but let's not get too cocky, fam. we still have a looong way to go 
u know i was just reading about this & its like thailand is already showing signs of what we'll face if we dont take action 
i hope ppl start taking this seriously & not just think of sea turtles & dolphins as the only ones in need of conservation 
we need to make sure we protect all marine life, not just the ones with cute faces 
️ As for Phuket getting more dugong love, I'm all for it, but let's not get too carried away with the merch – it's cute, but it's not enough 
.
i was reading about thailand's dugongs and it's so sad what's happening to them... like, didn't we learn from the quokka crisis? 
seriously though, our oceans are in a mess and we need to do better... maybe we can take cues from those adorable quokkas and just relax already 
. We need to take action before it's too late! 
maybe if we keep spreading awareness and taking action, we can actually make a difference and save some of those sea cows from extinction 
. Like, we're already dealing with so much pollution and climate change, it's hard to believe that seagrass die-offs could be a thing 
. But seriously, what's the point of having an UN treaty if it's not actually going to make a difference? 
are we just talking about some fancy words on paper or is there actual action being taken? 
and btw, pin badges with visible eyes are kinda cute I guess 
. I mean, did you know that sea levels have risen by about 8 inches since 1880? 
That's no joke! 
.
. From reducing plastic use to investing in renewable energy... the list goes on and on 
. So let's get on this, folks! We can do better