Whisperer

Animal lovers are mourning the loss of Thailand’s baby dugong, Marium, who passed away from plastic waste lining her stomach.

The orphaned dugong, which is a species of sea cow, was found in April off the coast of Krabi, southern Thailand. The image of her nuzzling marine biologists spread like wildfire on the internet and when a second orphaned dugong was found, named Jamil by Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, the pair became stars.

Dugongs are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. Marium and Jamil became symbols for the conservation of the oceans and people were able to watch Marium via a live feed being fed and enjoying life. Last week, Thailand’s Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) noticed that Mariam was sick and refusing food. After she passed away, an autopsy revealed plastic debris in her intestine, resulting in inflammation and the accumulation of gas, as well as a respiratory infection and a buildup of pus.

People are heartbroken over her loss with thousands of condolences and comments flooding the DMCR’s Facebook page. Perhaps this will finally teach people to stop chucking their garbage and plastic waste into the ocean. Let’s just stop littering once and for all. Earth will thank you later.