Dugong population increasing in Trang: aerial survey

BANGKOK, March 28 (TNA) - The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources had carried out an aerial survey in the southern coastal province of Trang and found that the dugong population has increased due mainly to cooperation from various conservation groups. A fishery biologist of Phuket Marine Biological Center,Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong, together with researchers and foreign pilots conducted an aerial survey over Libong and Muk islands, which are important habitats of endangered dugongs. The survey found that over 30 dugongs in the area at present. A drone took pictures of the sea mammals for further plan to dugong conservation. Kongkiat said more dugong population has been seen in the last three years after the crisis years earlier, in which 11 dugongs has been found dead ashore. Most of dugong deaths were caused by human like fishing activities.(TNA)