An adult dugong was discovered dead on the shores of Barangay Aras-Asan in Sebaste, Antique, shortly after local residents assisted a stranded juvenile dugong elsewhere in the province. Fisheries expert Flord Nicson Calawag noted that while the carcass exhibited minor abrasions, the exact cause of death remains unknown. Strong waves from the southwest monsoon likely deposited the animal on the beach, though this does not explain its initial demise. A necropsy is required to investigate potential factors such as disease, vessel strikes, or entanglement in fishing equipment. This incident highlights the vulnerability of the species, which relies on seagrass meadows and faces threats from habitat loss and human activity. Authorities are currently working to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of this marine mammal, as the loss of mature individuals poses a significant risk to the local population.
Source : Philippine Daily Inquirer
Photo : Philippine Daily Inquirer
