PHUKET, 09 July 2019 (NNT) – Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha has travelled south with an official team to visit and feed baby dugong “Yamil” which was recently found stranded on an Andaman beach.
The young orphan is in the care of the Marine Resources Research and Development Center in its nursing and rehabilitative area under the supervision of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, the Royal Thai Navy and related agencies. Meanwhile, Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, has placed the dugong under royal patronage and protection. The princess has also given a name to the baby dugong.
It is Yamil, a name which means a handsome man of the sea. Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya adopted dugong Yamil under the provisions of His Majesty’s project for the conservation of coral reefs and Thai marine life. The Prime Minister fed the dugong with milk and inquired about its ongoing care. He also thanked and provided moral support to a team of officials and veterinarians, who are taking such good care of Thailand’s native dugongs that their numbers have increased in the area.
Gen. Prayut expressed a wish that Dugong Yamil will grow fast and healthily. A veterinarian who takes care of Yamil disclosed that the dugong is about 3-4 months old and has become stronger after being closely nursed and cared for, after being located lost and wounded. Yamil can now drink milk and eat seagrass and has put on weight.
