The endangered dudong spotted for the first time ever in the Prek Tnaot fishing community in Kampot province on July 4. MCC
An endangered dugong (Dugong dugon), commonly known as a sea cow, was spotted for the first time by researchers in the Prek Tnaot fishing community in Kampot province’s Bokor town on July 4 after a conservation project previously dropped artificial reef structures into the water to create a shelter to protect marine habitats.
The provincial Fisheries Administration (FiA), lead by director Sar Sarin, along with Marine Conservation Cambodia (MCC), have continued studying and researching rare species in the province’s waters.
“We do not yet know how many dugongs there are. The team spotted one and is continuing to study [their number]. They took photos and filmed footage from a distance so we can not yet identify whether it is male or female. But [it] is not small, over 200 kilogrammes approximately,” Sarin said.
He added that last month, fishermen also claimed to have seen a sea cow in the same area, but they could not capture any photographs. Additionally, one was previously spotted in Kep province, as these animals move in the sea to areas abundant with food and safety.
“This means our area is a safe place with plenty of food and a good ecological system due to strong enforcement against illegal activities with the support of the fishing community and local authorities, leading to the return of rare species,” he said.
Sarin mentioned that to conserve these marine species, about 60 large and between 200 and 300 small artificial reef structures have been deployed since 2023. Additionally, over 300 concrete posts have been installed.
He noted these projects will continue to help protect these species from being disturbed by fishing activities.
MCC posted a short video of the dugong sighting on their social media on Sunday, July 14, calling it an incredible discovery.
“We are thrilled to share this information with nature lovers. This majestic marine animal is a symbol of marine biodiversity, and it is an endangered species. The discovery is a significant step forward in the research and conservation of these wonderful marine mammals in Cambodia,” it stated.
MCC hopes the discovery will encourage the public to love and protect the country’s precious marine ecosystem even more. It also called for collective efforts to protect the dugong and all marine treasures to ensure their continued presence in the Kingdom’s waters.
According to the Ministry of Information, Kampot has nine fishing communities, 11 types of seagrass covering 8,435 hectares of seabed, 953 hectares of coral, 1,966 hectares of mangrove forests and 13 conservation sites.
