‘Dugong’ found dead in Negros Occidental’s Macahulom Reef

A dead sea cow, locally known as “dugong,” was found in Sagay City, Negros Occidental ON Monday, July 18. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

BACOLOD CITY — A sea cow, locally known as “dugong,” was found dead in Macahulom Reef within the Sagay Marine Reserve in Sagay City, Negros Occidental last Monday, July 18.

The sea cow was a female adult measuring 2.95 meters with an estimated weight of 300-350 kilograms. When it was found, the sea cow was already in an advanced state of decomposition, according to Jose Roberto Togle, head of the Resource Management  Section of the Sagay Marine Reserve, on Thursday.

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.

Dugong, also known in Filipino as baboy-dagat (pig of the sea), and the only surviving species from the Family of Dugongidae.

“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,” Togle said.

According to the Updated Checklist and Status of Marine Mammals, 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.

The last time a dugong was stranded in the area was in 2000.

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JPV