Dugong Sightings in Sarangani Bay Strengthen Hopes for Marine Conservation
A drone operated by the Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape (SBPS) monitoring office recently spotted four dugongs or sea cows—three adults and a cub—off the coast of Barangay Cablalan in Glan, Sarangani Province. Locally-based conservationists said the dugongs were looking for food in the area, as the bay was a known foraging site and sanctuary for marine animals.
The recent sighting of dugongs in Sarangani Bay in Mindanao has raised confidence that current conservation efforts are bearing fruit and contributing to the survival of endangered animal species in the country.
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"Our ocean wants to remind us once again of its importance as a habitat for our marine wildlife, including our country's only vegetarian mammal, the dugong," said SBPS Superintendent Cirilo Lagnason, Jr.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed dugongs as a vulnerable species. Some of the dangers facing these animals include habitat loss, hunting, and accidental capture in fishing gear.
Drone shot of dugongs sighted in Sarangani Bay
Another problem cited by conservationists is trash in the ocean, which dugongs can accidentally ingest and suffer injuries from. “Some of the strandings are caused by indirect anthropogenic activities, which include the improper disposal of fishing paraphernalia,” Lagnason said.
Notre Dame Broadcasting back in February reported on the body of a juvenile dugong that had washed up on the beach near Barangay Tango, also in Glan, Sarangani. Medical examiners determined the cause of death to be drowning following ingestion of nylon strands and seagrass, which were found in the animal’s internal organs.
The scope of the problem means conservationists alone can only do so much. “The DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) alone cannot carry out this function effectively without the support of the citizenry and the local government units. We must all work together to protect and preserve the biodiversity in the SBPS,” DENR-12 regional executive director and SBPS board chairperson Felix Alicer said.
The SBPS has been monitoring the status of species within their area of responsibility for some time. Single dugongs were spotted in Sarangani Bay in November of last year and January this year. In April, three dugongs were spotted and one separate dugong were spotted, although it is unknown if some or all of them are the same dugongs spotted last May.
