Young Dugong Dies; Autopsy Shows Sudden Circulatory Collapse
A young dugong that stranded at Laem Son Beach in Ranong died despite emergency care, with autopsy findings indicating septic shock and acute circulatory collapse from severe dehydration and infection.
On July 8, 2025, Dr. Pinsak Suraswadi, director of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, revealed the autopsy findings for a young dugong that had stranded at Laem Son Beach in Ranong on July 5, 2025. Staff provided emergency care and transferred the animal to the Siridhat Rare Marine Animal Rescue Center, where it was monitored around the clock for 24 hours.
The dugong's health assessments showed a lean body condition (BCS 2.5/5) with bruising on its side from the stranding. Its heart rate averaged 80-100 beats per minute, with resting breathing at 1-3 times per five minutes and swimming breathing at 4-5 times per five minutes. Tests revealed low blood sugar and moderate to severe dehydration. The digestive system showed significant gas accumulation and seaweed remains in the feces, though bowel function remained present.
Veterinarians provided emergency treatment with medications, fluid supplementation, and formula feeding. Despite these efforts, the young dugong died. Immediate necropsy revealed pale heart muscle with blood clots in the heart chambers. The respiratory system showed lung congestion and emphysema. The abdominal cavity contained fibrin covering the intestines, suggesting severe prolonged inflammation. The stomach contained partially digested seagrass packed tightly inside, along with intestinal inflammation.
The autopsy findings suggest death resulted from septic shock caused by bloodstream infection combined with severe dehydration, leading to acute circulatory failure. Staff collected blood and tissue samples from various organs for laboratory analysis to definitively confirm the cause of death. These findings will be used to advance knowledge and improve rescue protocols for endangered marine animals, increasing survival rates for dugongs and other rare marine species in the future while supporting Thailand's sustainable marine conservation efforts.
