The Andaman coast was one of very few places in the world with a viable population but then dead dugongs began washing up. Now half have gone
A
solitary figure stands on the shore of Thailand’s Tang Khen Bay. The tide is slowly rising over the expanse of sandy beach, but the man does not seem to notice. His eyes are not fixed on the sea, but on the small screen clutched between his hands.
About 600 metres offshore, past the shadowy fringe of coral reef, his drone hovers over the murky sea, focused on a whirling grey shape: Miracle, the local dugong, is back.
Theerasak Saksritawee, known by his nickname Pop, has been visiting Tang Khen Bay nearly every day for the past 15 months to monitor the dugongs, including Miracle, who have come to live in this pocket of the Andaman Sea.
