First Sighting in Nearly a Century! Live Dugong Spotted in Yilan Waters, Taiwan Province | CBCGDF OceanWetlands

The editor of "OceanWetlands" has noticed that, according to media reports, on March 26, 2025, a fisherman, Mr. Chen, unexpectedly caught a wild dugong while hauling in his nets in the waters off Fenniaolin, Yilan County, Taiwan Province, China.



The dugong, an endangered marine mammal listed as "Vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), measured approximately 3 meters in length and weighed around 500 kilograms. This marks the first sighting of a live dugong in Taiwan Province since 1937. The location of this discovery is situated on the northeastern coast of Taiwan Island.

Experts speculate that this particular dugong might have originated from the waters around Okinawa, Japan, and migrated to the waters off Taiwan, following ocean currents and food sources. However, it is also possible that it came from the waters around the Philippines.



Dugongs primarily inhabit warm, shallow coastal waters and feed on seagrass. Historically, overhunting and habitat destruction have significantly reduced their population. Currently, marine pollution and the degradation of seagrass beds continue to pose serious threats to their survival. Whether dugongs will be sighted again in the future remains to be seen and requires further research and observation.

 

Original Chinese Article: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/XpMb-E7BrPoe1AIcdXqY0Q

Translator: Sara

Reviewed by: Richard

Editor: Sara    

Contact: v10@cbcgdf.org; +8617319454776

 




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