A very rare sea cow locally known as “dugong” was found dead in Macahulom Reef within the Sagay Marine Reserve in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, on Monday, July 18.
The last time a dugong was stranded in the area was in 2000.
The dead sea cow was a female adult measuring 2.95 meters with an estimated weight of 300-350 kilograms in an advanced state of decomposition, Jose Roberto Togle, head of the Resource Management Section of the Sagay Marine Reserve, said Thursday, July 21.
Bantay Dagat Volunteers Dionesio Pahayahay, Francis Gopio, and Paolo Hulleza were on duty at the Macahulom Watchtower when they saw the dead animal at around 9 a.m. on July 18 and reported the sighting to the Office of the Protected Area Superintendent of Sagay Marine Reserve.
Based on the initial evaluation, there were no injuries and external lesions found on the animal.
Further external examination was collaboratively performed by PASu Mayo Antonio Cueva, EMS II Roberto T. Togle, Dr. Baltazar Delorino, Christoper Fernandez and Dina David-Lagutin upon its transport to the Old Sagay Feeder Port.
Dugong (Dugong dugon), also commonly known in Filipino as baboy-dagat (pig of the sea), and the only surviving species from the Family of Dugongidae is one of the indicator species inhabiting the coasts of northern Negros Occidental, particularly in Sagay City, Togle said.
Due to its strategic location bounded by marine channels and migratory paths such as Asuncion Pass, Visayan Sea, and Tañon Strait Protected Seascape respectively, and of its bountiful pristine habitats strongly protected, it’s no wonder that these species linger in the area, he added.
According to the Updated Checklist and Status of Marine Mammals confirmed within the Philippine Waters by Aragones et al. 2010, this animal is considered very rare and threatened having been listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
The dugong’s carcass was turned over to Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology for future collection of data and specimens, which can provide critical elements of information for research and development of management strategies.*