Dugong
This is a report on a dugong mortality in the Philippines from Rowan Byrne, participating member of SI
It had fish net markings and scars all over its dorsal surface (back) thatlooked like coral cuts and up to 6 slashes behind its head and upper dorsal (back) region that appeared not to be from netting, they could be described as man made. These slashes were 1 to 2 inches deep, cutting deep into flesh, and blood flow could be seen 3 to 4 inches behind the left eye. In one of the Photos their looks to be remains of blood flow from the right nostril. It appears that the dugong was caught in a net and the author suspects as the net was being pulled in the dugong was found alive so the net owners tried unsuccessfully to kill the animal with some sort of knife, or machete and the dugong somehow managed to get free and swim for safety. It began to approach / return to the area inshore that the author suspects to be a safe haven for dugongs in Hinatuan Bay, and somehow may of been disturbed and began to return to open sea when it went entered a fish corral and minutes hours later it died. No dugong will die when it enters a fish corral as it has space and an area to survive for a number of hours, so why did this dugong die?, it appears to have been in a fishing accident and the outcome of this "accident" killed the dugong due to incisions and cuts it received. The dugong also appeared severely bloated, so there is a possibility of poisoning maybe due to dynamite or cyanide fishing, and somehow it was affected by such procedures, thus killing it. Whatever way you look at it, man had a part to play in this adult dugongs death.
It was found at 8 am floating in the fish coral, and was taken to MahabaIsland for examination and Photographs, where it was then buried and not eaten, showing the people are concerned about the species and its conservation, despite it being Christmas. Compiled By Rowan Byrne, VSO Irish Marine Biologist ([email protected]), Field Details taken by Gary Cacho. 14.01.2002
