Dead dugong washes ashore near Mersing

JOHOR BARU: The carcass of an adult dugong has been discovered at Pulau Tinggi near Mersing.

Villagers found the mammal, with blood oozing out of its eyes, along the coast near Kampung Tanjung Balang at 5pm on Thursday evening.

Johor Health, Environment, Education, and Information Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat confirmed the discovery, describing it as a huge loss to the state's marine life.

He pointed out that the state Veterinary Department together with Rantau Abang Fisheries Research Institute would conduct a post-mortem on the carcass.

"We want to find out the cause of its death, whether it died naturally or otherwise.

"From 2015, we have found four dugong carcasses in the area," he said.

Ayub also pointed out that the stage government was in the midst of gazetting the area as a dugong sanctuary to protect the species.