26/08/2026
How do you protect an animal that's rarely seen?
Sometimes, the answer isn't out at sea. It's with the people who have lived alongside it for generations.
In Rote Ndao, Indonesia, researchers and coastal communities are working together to understand where dugongs still occur and the seagrass habitats they depend on. Together, these conversations painted a clearer picture of dugongs in Rote Ndao:
🌿Communities identified Halophila and Syringodium as seagrass species commonly grazed by dugongs. Their observations closely match current scientific understanding of dugong feeding behaviour.
🐚 Communities reported recent dugong sightings across key coastal areas, including Mulut Seribu, Nuse Island, Dengka Island, and Ndao Island.
📍 Community knowledge also helped identify priority areas for future ecological surveys and conservation planning.
Every observation adds another piece to the puzzle. By combining local knowledge with scientific surveys, they're building a stronger foundation for future conservation.
This work would not have been possible without the invaluable collaboration of Pusat Riset Sistem Biota Balai PK Kupang Universitas Nusa Cendana Fakultas Peternakan, Kelautan dan Perikanan UNDANA and BPPSDM Gondol
The collaboration is part of the Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Initiative, is supported by the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund in collaboration with Mubadala.
