A Thai social media sensation is taking her online fame to raise awareness about one of Southeast Asia's most critically endangered species.
Naga, a 35-year-old bottlenose dolphin who has become a beloved fixture on the popular influencer platform TikTok, has been thrust into the spotlight as a symbol of Thailand's struggling marine ecosystem. With over 1 million followers hanging onto her every move, Naga's owner and trainer, Anusorn "Andy" Wong, is using her fame to push for urgent action to protect the bottlenose dolphin.
Thailand's bottlenose dolphin population has been dwindling at an alarming rate due to entanglement in fishing nets, habitat destruction, and hunting. Conservationists estimate that fewer than 500 individuals remain in the wild, making them one of the most endangered marine mammals globally.
Andy Wong's decision to turn Naga into a social media sensation was initially driven by a desire to raise awareness about his beloved pet, who had been rescued from the jaws of a shark just days before. However, as Naga's online following grew, so did her platform's reach and influence.
"Who would have thought that a cute, playful dolphin like Naga would be the key to saving an entire species?" Wong quipped in an interview with our publication. "But I believe that if we can inspire people to care about Naga's fate, they'll start to care about the dolphins' fate."
Since her TikTok debut last year, Naga has become a viral sensation, garnering millions of views and sparking conversations on social media about marine conservation. Wong has since partnered with local government agencies and international organizations to push for policy changes that will protect Thailand's dwindling dolphin population.
As Wong notes, the tide is turning in favor of the dolphins' fate. "For the first time in years, I've seen real momentum behind our campaign. People are starting to take notice, and it's giving me hope."
Naga may be just one influencer, but her impact could be far-reaching – and potentially transformative for Thailand's marine ecosystem.
Naga, a 35-year-old bottlenose dolphin who has become a beloved fixture on the popular influencer platform TikTok, has been thrust into the spotlight as a symbol of Thailand's struggling marine ecosystem. With over 1 million followers hanging onto her every move, Naga's owner and trainer, Anusorn "Andy" Wong, is using her fame to push for urgent action to protect the bottlenose dolphin.
Thailand's bottlenose dolphin population has been dwindling at an alarming rate due to entanglement in fishing nets, habitat destruction, and hunting. Conservationists estimate that fewer than 500 individuals remain in the wild, making them one of the most endangered marine mammals globally.
Andy Wong's decision to turn Naga into a social media sensation was initially driven by a desire to raise awareness about his beloved pet, who had been rescued from the jaws of a shark just days before. However, as Naga's online following grew, so did her platform's reach and influence.
"Who would have thought that a cute, playful dolphin like Naga would be the key to saving an entire species?" Wong quipped in an interview with our publication. "But I believe that if we can inspire people to care about Naga's fate, they'll start to care about the dolphins' fate."
Since her TikTok debut last year, Naga has become a viral sensation, garnering millions of views and sparking conversations on social media about marine conservation. Wong has since partnered with local government agencies and international organizations to push for policy changes that will protect Thailand's dwindling dolphin population.
As Wong notes, the tide is turning in favor of the dolphins' fate. "For the first time in years, I've seen real momentum behind our campaign. People are starting to take notice, and it's giving me hope."
Naga may be just one influencer, but her impact could be far-reaching – and potentially transformative for Thailand's marine ecosystem.
I'm soooo impressed with Naga! 
She's got a ton of followers on TikTok, but it's not just about the fame - it's about using that platform to make a real difference 
. The fact that her owner is using her online presence to raise awareness about the struggles Thailand's marine ecosystem is facing is amazing 
.
But Naga's case is different - it's about a species that's literally on the brink of extinction 
. And if her online presence can inspire people to care about these incredible creatures, then I'm all for it 
.
That's like, what, a tiny fraction of what they used to be? 
It's heartbreaking. But if Naga can help turn that tide and inspire people to take action, then I'm all for it 
.
!
I'm literally so inspired by Naga 
. Anusorn "Andy" Wong is such a genius 
for turning Naga into this advocacy tool 
.
. But seeing Naga's story, with all her adorable videos and updates on TikTok 
, makes me feel like there's hope 
.
... it's sparking conversations about conservation and sustainability 
. It's making people care 
... but like, I'm not sure if using a cute dolphin to save the species is gonna cut it 
. I mean, don't get me wrong, awareness is important and all that jazz 
. Can't just rely on social media fame to solve this problem 
. And what's with the lack of accountability for the people responsible for harming these dolphins? 
I hope Naga's campaign does lead to some real progress, but we need more than just a viral sensation 
she's literally saving lives over here! I mean, who knew a cute dolphin on TikTok could make such a big difference? 
Let's hope the momentum keeps building and we can make a real change for Thailand's dolphins