Thailand's lost baby dugong dies from shock, eating plastic

[TomSea]

Thailand's lost baby dugong dies from shock, eating plastic
An 8-month-old dugong nurtured by marine experts after it was found lost near a beach in southern Thailand has died of what biologists believe was a combination of shock and ingesting plastic waste

Published Earlier Today

BANGKOK (AP) — An 8-month-old dugong nurtured by marine experts after it was found lost near a beach in southern Thailand has died of what biologists believe was a combination of shock and ingesting plastic waste, officials said Saturday.

The female dugong — a large ocean mammal — was named "Marium" and became a hit in Thailand after images of biologists embracing and feeding her with milk and seagrass spread across social media. Veterinarians and volunteers had set out in canoes to feed Marium up to 15 times a day while also giving her health checks.

Last week, she was found bruised after being chased and supposedly attacked by a male dugong during the mating season, said Jatuporn Buruspat, director-general of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.

More at: https://www.tampabay.com/ap/national/thailands-lost-baby-dugong-dies-from-shock-eating-plastic-ap_nationalf4b5c0d9dbf344aabb6543855aaf4fd5

The story has been prominent in today's news coverage so passing it on.

[Sanguine]

So, did she die from shock and plastic or from injuries sustained while being chased by a male dugong?

[Cyber Liberty]

I want to know if it was a plastic straw that did it in.

[TomSea]

So, did she die from shock and plastic or from injuries sustained while being chased by a male dugong?

The animal named Mariam died on Saturday from an infection that was exacerbated by bits of plastic lining her stomach, according to officials.

...

The eight-month-old dugong was found ill a week ago and refused to eat. She died around midnight on Saturday after going into shock. Efforts to resuscitate her failed.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-49380633

And I would not want to be smug in saying this, but they say the problem is much more intense over in Asia, if that includes Thailand as part of the danger area, I don't know.

[Sanguine]

And I would not want to be smug in saying this, but they say the problem is much more intense over in Asia, if that includes Thailand as part of the danger area, I don't know.

I didn't mean to be flippant; it is sad.

[EdJames]

Ok, it is basically a manatee.

[TomSea]

I didn't mean to be flippant; it is sad.

I'm sorry you took it that way, it was not addressed to  you, a general comment on the plastics over there.  Apparently it's a real problem over there or in parts of Asia.

[Cyber Liberty]

I'm sorry you took it that way, it was not addressed to  you, a general comment on the plastics over there.  Apparently it's a real problem over there or in parts of Asia.

Yes it is.  It's really bad there, and it's not plastic straws.  I was a bit flip myself.

[thackney]

I'm sorry you took it that way, it was not addressed to  you, a general comment on the plastics over there.  Apparently it's a real problem over there or in parts of Asia.

10 rivers responsible for 95% of total river-borne plastic pollution in oceans
https://nypost.com/2017/12/12/10-rivers-are-responsible-for-90-of-the-plastic-in-the-ocean/

8 in Asia, the other two in Africa.