An officer pretended to be a dugong during a marine wildlife rescue training session in Thailand.

The man lay on the floor and pretended to be an injured sea cow so volunteers could practice rescue techniques on him during the lecture held at Koh Mook island in Trang province on September 10.

Apichai Ekvanakun, the deputy director-general of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, said the training was organised by the Marine and Coastal Resources Office 7 and Hat Chao Mai National Park after a stranded dugong was rescued by villagers on the island on September 3.

He said: 'By the time marine officials arrived at the scene, the dugong had already been successfully rescued by the locals.

'It was important to return the dugong to the water as soon as possible, and they were able to do so through proper rescue methods that they had learned through prior training.'

Patrol staff have been assigned to monitor the area for more beached dugongs, he added. Residents have also been given equipment such as stretchers and first aid kits in case of another stranding incident.

Meanwhile, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Patcharawat Wongsuwan has urged fishermen to be careful with their nets as these could ensnare and injure marine wildlife.

Since 2015, the ministry has been conducting marine animal rescue training for fishermen, marine and fisheries officials, and representatives from public and private organisations, five times a year.

The ministry has also produced a guidebook and pamphlet on how to rescue stranded dugongs for distribution to locals in nearby areas.