Recently, villagers in Koh Yao District, Phang Nga Province, successfully rescued a large dugong stranded on the shore. The incident occurred in the early morning when the tide receded along the beach at Laem Lan, Moo 5, Phru Nai Subdistrict. According to Vichai Mingpicharn, a member of the Phru Nai Subdistrict Municipality, locals noticed the dugong struggling far from the waterline and immediately rushed to its aid.
The dugong, disoriented and struggling to return to the sea, kept moving towards the shore. Realizing the urgency, Vichai quickly gathered four to five other villagers, who together used ropes and physical effort to guide and push the animal back into deeper waters. After nearly half an hour of coordinated efforts, the dugong was successfully returned to the ocean.
The rescue brought great joy to the villagers, as dugongs are rare and protected marine animals. This was the first instance of a dugong being stranded at Laem Lan. The likely cause was the abundance of seagrass in the area, which may have led the dugong to lose track of time while feeding, eventually getting stranded as the tide receded. Fortunately, the timely intervention of the villagers ensured the animal’s safe return to the sea.
