In Kota Kinabalu, Sabah wildlife authorities are cautioning boat operators to be vigilant while navigating the waters of Tanjung Aru beach due to the sudden appearance of a dugong. The dugong was first spotted by paddleboard guide Lisa Poroting on a Wednesday morning. Poroting mentioned that she and her boss, Nick Boura, have been seeing the marine mammal periodically up to Saturday morning. Boura even used a drone to snap aerial pictures of the dugong.
Poroting emphasized, “We are doing our best to ensure the safety of the animal and keep it away from harm’s path.” Sabah Wildlife director Augustine Tuuga stated that dugongs, also known as “sea cows,” are fully protected under the state Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997. Tuuga expressed his hope that the public will refrain from harassing the dugong while it is present in the area.
He also voiced concerns about potential accidents occurring as many people might not be aware of the dugong’s presence, leading to incidents when boats travel in the vicinity. Tuuga assured that wildlife officials would monitor the situation closely to prevent any harm to the dugong. The authorities are unsure of the dugong’s origin and noted this seems to be the first reported sighting in the Tanjung Aru waters.
Tuuga shared, “If the dugong continues to stay there, it may have seagrass to feed on, but information on the seagrass in the area is lacking.” Sabah Parks director Dr. Maklarin Lakim mentioned that Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, an island cluster off Sabah’s capital, provides protected habitats for dugongs. Pulau Tiga Park off Kuala Penyu, approximately 110km southwest of Kota Kinabalu, also has seagrass beds where dugongs are known to reside. Sabah Parks is considering deploying a team to monitor the situation.
Additionally, Lakim pointed out that dugongs are migratory creatures similar to turtles and travel great distances to feed on seagrass. Previous reports have indicated dugong sightings at Mantanani Island, off the northern Kota Belud district, about 100km from Kota Kinabalu.
