Drop in Tourism Makes Space for Rare Sea Creatures in Thailand

旅游衰退意外给泰国稀有海洋生物带来生机

It is rare to see a dugong, a threatened sea mammal, in southern Thailand’s shallow waters. But thanks to travel restrictions that have left popular travel spots empty, a large group of them recently made their presence known.

在泰国南部的浅水区很少见到儒艮——一种濒临灭绝的海洋哺乳动物。然而旅行限制使很多受欢迎的景点没了游客的身影，也正因如此最近某些浅水区惊现一大群儒艮。

Drone video released this week by Thailand’s Department of National Parks shows about 30 dugongs off Libong island. The animals were feeding on sea grass. Every so often, they came up to the surface of the water to breathe.

泰国国家公园管理局本周发布的一则无人机视频拍到了荔邦岛附近出现30只儒艮。这种动物以海草为食，且每隔一段时间就会浮到水面进行呼吸。

Dugongs are closely related to the manatee, or sea cow. They can grow up to 3.4 meters in length. An estimated 250 dugongs live in the waters off the Thai coast. They are a protected species under Thai law.

儒艮与海牛（或叫海象）关系密切。它们能够长到3.4米长。据估计，泰国沿海水域中生存着250只儒艮。它们是泰国法律规定的受保护的物种。

Human activity and water pollution have made dugong sightings in southern Thailand rare in recent years. And last year, a record number of dead dugongs were found in Thai waters.

近年来，由于人类活动和水污染泰国南部很少能再见到儒艮。而且去年，泰国水域发现的死亡的儒艮数量破了历史纪录。

Marine scientist Thon Thamrongnawasawat said of the dugong sightings, “This species of mammal is very sensitive to speed boats and people. When they are gone, they feel free to gather in a large group and come close to shore.”

海洋科学家索恩·坦荣纳瓦萨瓦特在谈到儒艮减少的现象时说：“这种哺乳动物对快艇和人类非常敏感。当这类事物消失后，它们才可以自由地聚在一起并靠近海岸。”

The animals gained media attention last year after images spread of Thai animal doctors holding a sick baby dugong and hand-feeding her milk and sea grass. Even with such care, the baby died two months later.

去年，泰国动物医生抱着一个生病的儒艮宝宝并用手喂她牛奶和海草的照片公开后，此类动物得到了媒体的关注。然而即使在此般照顾下，儒艮宝宝仍在两个月后死亡。

An examination of her body after her death found a large amount of plastic waste in her intestines. This led to severe stomach problems and a blood infection.

在儒艮宝宝死后对其身体进行检查时，医生发现其肠道中有大量的塑料废弃物，而这导致了严重的胃部疾病和血液感染。

Naturalists report that other rare marine animals have also been seen recently in shallow Thai waters.

博物学家们报道称，最近在泰国浅水域还发现了其他稀有的海洋动物。

Thon said there have been reports of large numbers of sharks coming unusually close to land in several places in southern Thailand. Video from park workers on Phi Phi island shows between 70 and 100 blacktip sharks in the shallow waters of the Maya Bay. The area was made famous by the Leonardo DiCaprio movie “The Beach.” The bay was closed to visitors two years ago for environmental recovery. The island’s national park has been shut since March to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

索恩表示，有报道称泰国南部一些地方有大批鲨鱼异常地靠近陆地。皮皮岛上公园工作人员发布的视频显示，玛雅湾浅水区中出现70至100只黑鳍鲨。该地区因莱昂纳多·迪卡普里奥的电影《海滩》而闻名。两年前，该海湾为恢复环境而对游客关闭。为防止新冠状病毒传播，小岛上的国家公园自三月份便被关闭。

Park workers there also counted 10 to 15 false killer whales, another protected species, near the popular tourist island of Koh Lanta. It marked the first time the animals have been seen in that area.

在著名的观光岛兰塔岛附近，当地公园工作人员还发现了10至15头假虎鲸——另一种受保护的物种。这是该地区首次出现此类动物。

I’m Ashley Thompson.

艾什莉·汤普森报道。

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