Headless dugong sparks poaching fears in Phuket investigation
A shocking discovery was made on one of the beaches in Phuket, a popular Thai island. Residents of the Baan Bang Rong village came across the body of a marine mammal—a dugong, also known as a "sea siren." The animal was missing its head. Local residents suspect that illegal poaching activity could be behind the animal's death.
The body of the dead dugong was found in the Baan Bang Rong area, in the northeastern part of Phuket island. Local residents stumbled upon the animal and immediately notified the appropriate authorities. Their reaction was understandable—the dugong is an endangered species, and suspicions of poaching activity raised particular concern.
The identified animal turned out to be an adult male, measuring 7 feet in length, though due to the lack of a head, it’s difficult to precisely determine its original size. It weighed about 550 pounds.
Numerous scratches were seen on the dugong's body, which, according to preliminary findings, could have been caused during interactions with the herd. However, particular suspicion was aroused by the traces of abrasions and narrowing around the right fin, which may indicate possible entrapment in a trap or nets.
Symbolic "sea siren"
The coastal dugong is the only living representative of the dugong family, and its population is increasingly threatened. These herbivorous mammals inhabit shallow marine waters and primarily feed on aquatic plants and algae.
Their name comes from the Malay word duyung, meaning "lady of the sea" or "siren." Where does this comparison come from? From a distance, the silhouette of a dugong may resemble a human, which could have inspired legends about mermaids for centuries.
Threat to the species
The death of any representative of this species is a blow to the world's dugong population, whose numbers are declining due to habitat destruction, environmental pollution, and human activities. Authorities in Thailand have already launched an investigation to determine whether poachers were involved and to understand better how to prevent such incidents in the future.
For many tourists and residents of Phuket, the dugong represents a symbol of the island's natural heritage and a reminder of the fragility of ecosystems. The gruesome discovery off the coast of Baan Bang Rong serves as a warning of how urgent it is to take action to protect marine fauna.
The investigation is expected to shed light on what led to the death of this majestic animal and contribute to more effective protection of endangered species in the future.
