Villagers discovered the carcass floating off the coast of Baan Koh Jum, at the southern end of Koh Sriboya, on Saturday (May 31).
The village head,. Kanokphan Damrong-Ongtrakul, alerted the authorities, and the Andaman Sea and Coastal Resources Research Center conducted an autopsy the following day.
The dugong, identified as a ‘Dugong dugon’, measured 230 centimetres in length and was not yet fully grown, the DMCR reported.
The body was reported to be in good condition, with no signs of injury from fishing equipment. Officers noted minor fang marks likely caused by interactions with other dugongs, a normal part of herd behaviour.
However, the internal examination revealed serious signs of infection. Large amounts of red fluid were found in the chest and abdomen, and many internal organs were swollen.
The heart showed signs of congestion, and the lungs were discoloured. Small amounts of parasites, including roundworms and flukes, were detected, along with cysts in the stomach lining and enlarged lymph nodes ‒ all indicating a systemic internal infection.
No foreign objects were found in the digestive tract, which contained sea grass, a normal part of the dugong’s diet.
Samples have been collected and sent for further laboratory testing to confirm the findings. The carcass was registered with the local police at Khlong Khanan Police Station as part of standard procedure, the DMCR noted.
The discovery of the dead young dugong came as officials reported sighting a pair of dugongs new to the area.
Park officials reported sighting the two dugongs, and green sea turtles, near Ao Nam Mao in Muang district of Krabi, some 15km north of Koh Sriboya, suggesting that the marine biodiversity in the area is improving.