PUBLISHED: 3 Jan 2025 at 04: 20
According to Natural Resources and Environment Minister Chalermchai Sri-on, new methods have been put in place to help work to save more alligators after some were recently discovered useless.
The problem, he said, is primarily caused by declining seaweed meadows, which are the only carnivorous marine mammal in the world, which rely on seagrasses for food.
Alligators are forced to migrate in search of food as grass meadows, which may cause them to suffer injuries while at sea as a result of fish and other risks.
A fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles ( UAV ) will be used to improve the dugong population’s health for the first measure, he said, adding that the technology will allow for a closer examination of dugongs ‘ health and identify those who may need assistance and are ill.
According to the next estimate, some marine regions may be designated as temporary habitat safety zones, where he said, activities that are deemed harmful to dugongs will likely be prohibited.
Rawai Beach and Bang Rong Bay in Phuket, as well as Bang Khwan Bay in Phangnga, where a lot of alligators have just been spotted, are the first three places that are likely to be designated as temporary habitat temples. He said that more discussions will be held with different parties to hear their views.
The second measure concerns a plan to address the loss of grass by replacing dugong’s healthy meals with other kinds of food while separating sick or starving dugongs from their herd to get treated at wooden isolation pools in the sea.
Finally, joint operations centers will be established between the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources ( DMCR ) and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation ( DNP ) for the protection of dugongs, for a total cost of 615.16 million baht.
For then, food products for alligators are being distributed in specific areas in Phuket, Trang and Phangnga as part of efforts to tackle the loss of grass, said Pinsak Suraswadi, director-general of the DMCR.
These include places off Koh Libong in Trang, Chao Mai National Park in Trang, Tang Khen Bay in the same state, and Bang Khwan Bay in Phangnga, all of which are located beneath Rawai Bridge in Phuket.
He claimed that Phangnga’s seaside floating gates are being constructed to house ill or weakened orangutans.