The Dugong Shepherds 18th Aerial Survey – 2025

18th Anniversary of the Flying Scouts Aerial Dugong Survey

Thai Dugong population still in crisis.

This our 18th year of Dugong aerial surveys has been one of the most challenging to date.

The significant drop in population numbers from the historical areas such as Krabi, and Trang together with challenging weather conditions have led to mixed survey results.

“The Dugongs are having to adapt, finding new sea grass feeding grounds, and so must our aerial survey approach.”

This is the motto we have had to adapt in light of the crisis facing Thailand’s already fragile Dugong population.

Identifying new feeding areas has become the priority for this and future surveys instead of revisiting known feeding sites.

Cooperation with local fishermen, boat captains – to track Dugong sightings, as well as more intensive sea grass bed surveying helps to target the aerial survey missions.

Regular reports of increased Dugong activity in Phuket, Phang Nga and Rayong provinces, helped shape the survey areas for 2025.

Ranong in particular was designated a new area of interest following detection of feeding grass trails by the DMCR seagrass team who survey potential survey sites in advance of the aerial and boat surveys.

Phang Nga bay was once again the start of the survey during mid February 2025.  Reports of  Dugong sightings in front of  Phuket Airpark had the team very excited.  Survey flights were conducted with Finless Poipoises were observed around Ko Yao Noi.

Capt. Amy from Phuket Airpark was kind enough to help conduct the aerial survey once again.

Our grateful thanks to Phuket Airpark for hosting us and Miss Dippy.

After Phang Nga bay, the survey mission moved to Krabi, based at VTSG – Krabi Airport.

A ray of sunshine, in a storm of threats.

This year, weather data from the previous four years was analysed in an attempt to identify optimal times to survey specific regions. This is a complicated process, since it has to incorporate possible winds, rain, high tide / type into account. Despite this exercise, Mother Nature had other ideas, and the Krabi survey for one was conducted under the most severe onshore winds yet encountered in 18 years, yielding poorer survey results.

After the disappointment of Krabi, Trang brought some improved sightings compared to the bleak outlook of the 2024 survey.

Economic development in Trang province such as the dredging and widening of the Trang river estuary, have all contributed to the decimation of the Dugong population in Trang.

Fortunately, this year saw an improvement in sightings, leading to the hope that the seagrass beds around Trang are recovering, and the Dugongs are slowly returning.

The DMCR team have been collaborating with world renowned Dugong expert, Dr. Helene Marsh, Prof. Emeritus at James Cook University, Australia.

Dr. Helen has been advising the team, including Flying Ed, on how best to refine the aerial surveys to yield “absolute abundance”, as opposed to “relative abundance” data.

Historically the Thai Dugong aerial project has been focusing on “relative abundance”, which is to repetitively sample an area and thereafter interpolate the actual census numbers from that area, with a mathematical probability model that allows for a factor of unseen animals.

“Absolute abundance”, involves saturating an entire contiguous area, such as an uninterrupted coastline, to obtain actual total population data, instead of an interpreted calculated one.

Adopting some of Dr Helene’s techniques, the team focused on Ranong province, with some excellent results.

Circa 30+ Dugong sightings were reported along the Ranong coast, leading to the theory that migration has taken place in this region since there is much less seaborne activity including tourism in this area.

A drone base will be established in this area for future remote study.

Satun province was also surveyed intensively, and several sightings were observed.

This is a relatively unexplored area, which holds a lot of promise for future study.

The scenery we get to fly around is still breathtaking, and an inspiration to continue the project.

Photography & video (c) DMCR . Artwork (c) Tom Potisit.

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