Reporter: Dr. Chanyut Sudtongkong
Evidence Date: August 10, 2024
Related SDGs: SDG 14
Related SDGs:
Related Indicator: 14.5.1
Sustainability and Stewardship
RUTS Strategy Plan for Mitigating Ecosystem Changes in the Andaman Coastal Region
October 28, 2025
Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya (RUTS), Trang Campus, located along Thailand’s Andaman coast, focuses on teaching, research, and community engagement in coastal resource conservation. Guided by its 2018–2037 strategic RUTS plan, RUTS prioritizes coastal protection and restoration to ensure sustainable use of marine resources. This commitment aligns with the Trang Provincial Development Plan, which emphasizes natural resource management, environmental protection, and the conservation of rare marine species such as the dugong.
Thailand’s dugong population, classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, has declined to about 100 individuals, with 65% residing in Trang Province as of 2023. In 2024, 41 dugongs were found dead along the Andaman coast, including five in November. The increase in deaths coincides with the loss of seagrass beds—their only food source—particularly around Libong Island (Trang Province), their primary habitat. As seagrass continues to disappear, dugongs have been forced to migrate toward Krabi and the eastern coast of Phuket. The necropsy of a dugong found in Krabi on November 18, 2024 showed the animal was emaciated, covered in barnacles, and had little seagrass in its stomach, indicating severe malnutrition and a population under critical stress.
RUTS has played a leading role in dugong and habitat conservation. In partnership with the Trang Traditional Fishermen’s Club, Andaman Foundation, local authorities, and academic institutions, RUTS co-developed the Dugong Conservation Plan (DCP) for Trang Province. The DCP aims to (1) protect dugongs and their habitats by mitigating threats, (2) support research for effective conservation, and (3) promote public awareness and community participation.
In 2023, RUTS began constructing the Rajamangala Trang Aquatic Animal Hospital at its Trang Campus to provide rehabilitation for injured marine animals and serve as a center for research and education that strengthens conservation efforts and community engagement. The hospital, funded by Trang Province and completed in 2023, was established to provide care for stranded dugongs and other marine species. A dedicated team of veterinarians and staff provides round-the-clock care for the animals.
On August 10, 2024, a male dugong calf, 1-2 months old, was found weak and swimming alone near Poda Island, Krabi Province. The calf was brought to the Rajamangala Trang Aquatic Animal Hospital, a facility specializing in the treatment and rehabilitation of sick or injured marine animals.
On December 6, 2024, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya (RUTS), Trang Campus, led by President Professor Dr. Suwat Thanyaros and the university’s executive team, welcomed a delegation from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) headed by Director-General Dr. Pinsak Suraswadi. The delegation visited the Rajamangala Trang Aquatic Animal Hospital and attended a joint meeting to discuss enhanced collaboration in marine and coastal resource management plan, with a particular focus on addressing the critical decline of Thailand’s dugong population.
Related Links:
https://plan.rmutsv.ac.th/ruts/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/RUTS-Long-term-plan-20-years_0.pdf
