The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources is inviting members of the public to participate in a contest to name an orphaned baby dugong, which was found stranded on a beach in Krabi province and which is now under the care of veterinarians at the centre to save rare marine animals in Phuket.

The department director-general Mr. Jatuporn Buruspat yesterday visited the Phuket centre to get updates on the condition of the three-month old dugong, which was admitted to the centre on Monday by villagers.

Mr. Jatuporn ordered a CCTV system to be installed in the centre’s nursery facility so that the public can follow up the baby dugong’s condition and the work of the vets.

He also invited members of the public enter a naming competition by submitting their suggestions to the department from today until July 21^st. Contest results will be announced the following day and the winners will receive token prizes.

The department has posted a video clip, about two minutes and 42 seconds long, showing vets feeding the baby dugong.  When the animal gets stronger, it may be moved to the Phuket Marine Biological Centre where Mariam, another baby dugong, is being cared for.

Mariam, also an orphaned baby dugong which was found stranded on Libong Island in Trang province. Photos and video clips showing her being cradled and fed by vets, released by the department, went viral on social media and generated widespread public interest in the sea mammals.