FINDING the body of a dead animal on the beach can be a horrifying experience, especially when the animal in question is from an endangered species.
It was claimed recently that the body of a dugong was found on a beach near Mersing in Johor. Is this true?
VERDICT:
TRUE
The Johor Fisheries Department confirmed that the body of an adult dugong, about 1m in length, had been found on a beach near Tanjung Leman in Kota Tinggi recently.
The department also said that the Mersing Fisheries Conservation and Protection Branch was deployed to the location to investigate.
"Based on a public tip-off on March 30, the team went to the location and took a sample of the dugong carcass for further investigation to determine its cause of death.
“Dugong are only found in waters off Johor in Peninsular Malaysia but their numbers are dropping because of the loss of seagrass habitats.
“Between 2015 and 2022, about 10 dugong deaths, mostly young ones, were reported,” it said in a statement here on Monday (April 1).
The MareCet Research Organisation (MareCet) estimates that there are less than 100 dugong in the Mersing Islands, the department added.
“Seagrass meadows on Sibu Island and Tinggi Island in Mersing are important feeding grounds for dugong. These areas also protect various marine life.
“Dugong, often called 'sea cows', need to eat about 40kg of seagrass daily,” it added.
The Malaysian Fisheries Department plans to make the Mersing Islands a dugong sanctuary to safeguard both the animals and the seagrass meadows.
This move is aimed at protecting the species and raising awareness of the endangered dugong.
Members of the public who come across any endangered marine animals are encouraged to contact the Fisheries Office or the Operations Control Centre at 03-8870 4058.
