A baby dugong which was left stranded near a beach but later saved by veterinarians will be released back into the wild in the next six months after rehabilitation, a marine chief said on Tuesday.
The one-year-old female mammal, which was accidentally separated from her mother, is gradually recovering, although the latest examination of her health indicated "she's rather thin", Jatuporn Buruspat, chief of the Marine and Coastal Resources Department, said during a trip to Trang on Tuesday.
The dugong is currently being taken care of at Point Dugong, a popular spot for dugong sightseeing, on Koh Libong in the province's Kantang district.
Other than being underweight, "Mariam is generally healthy," Mr Jatuporn said, adding veterinarians have found no other irregular symptoms.
Locals christened the dugong "Mariam", an Arabic name that can be translated as "lady of the sea", after she was spotted in Krabi on April 25.
The young mammal was believed to have become separated from her mother before swimming after a boat which led her to the Krabi shoreline.
Veterinarians said they have tried to feed the dugong as if she was living with her mother, and around one to two litres of milk, along with vitamins and minerals, are given to Mariam every day.
Caretakers are also encouraging her to swim in order to keep her in good physical condition and reduce her stress levels.
In about six months, Mariam is expected to be fully recovered and will be released back into her natural habitat, Mr Jatuporn said.
Fishermen and tourists have been urged to be extra careful around dugongs, which are listed as endangered mammals.