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Agence France-Presse

A round-the-clock webcast starring two beloved baby dugongs in Thailand named Mariam and Jamil went live on Sunday, allowing a more in-depth look at the celebrity sea cows.
Mariam captured hearts in viral social media posts last month showing her playfully nuzzling up to rescuers in shallow waters off southwestern Thailand, while Jamil washed ashore further up the coast a week ago.

The orphaned dugong duo are being held separately, but anyone with an internet connection can see them through a 24-hour live-stream that has eight camera angles and scheduled feeding times.
“We show them live because we don’t want people to disrupt them by going to see them at the current locations,” said Kongkiat Kittiwatanawong, director of the Phuket Marine Biological Centre.
He said cameras will also help with monitoring their recovery.




A little after 2pm Jamil was seen splashing away in a small pool in the Phuket centre.
Normally dugongs do not leave their mothers until they are a little more than a year.
Mariam is female and believed to be about six months old, while Jamil is half her age.
Experts say interest in the dugongs has helped galvanise awareness in ocean conservation.
Both were found in southern Thailand, home to about 250 dugongs, which are closely related to the manatee and classified as vulnerable.

The slow-moving mammals feed on sea grass but are at risk from habitat loss, water pollution, and nets used in fishing.
South Korean actress charged for catching endangered giant clams
A Thai Princess gave Jamil his name, which means “handsome sea prince” in the Yawi language used in southern provinces by Malay Muslims.
The dugongs are the latest marine creatures to make headlines in Thailand.
Last year a whale died off the country’s coast after swallowing more than 80 plastic bags.


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Animals

The dugong show: 24-hour webcast shows star Thai sea cows Mariam and Jamil

Mariam the dugong swimming in the waters around Libong island in Trang province. Photo: AFP

Photo: Department of Marine and Coastal Resources

This undated handout from Thailand's Department of Marine and Coastal Resources released on July 6, 2019 shows Jamil the dugong as he is being cared for at the Phuket Marine Biological Center in Phuket. - A second orphan baby dugong found stranded on a southern Thai beach has quickly been dubbed "handsome prince of the sea" by a Thai princess as the kingdom goes crazy for the ocean mammals. (Photo by Handout / DEPARTMENT OF MARINE AND COASTAL RESOURCES / AFP) / -----EDITORS NOTE --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / DEPARTMENT OF MARINE AND COASTAL RESOURCES - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS -

Mariam the dugong being cared for by park officials and veterinarians from the Phuket Marine Biological Centre on Libong island. Photo: AFP

News

Asia

Southeast Asia

Animals captured the hearts of internet users worldwide after viral social media posts of their rescue in southwestern Thailand in June


Animals captured the hearts of internet users worldwide after viral social media posts of their rescue in southwestern Thailand in June.


Conservation

Thailand

The dugong show: 24-hour webcast shows star Thai sea cows Mariam and Jamil

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Animals captured the hearts of internet users worldwide after viral social media posts of their rescue in southwestern Thailand in June

Animals captured the hearts of internet users worldwide after viral social media posts of their rescue in southwestern Thailand in June