World Distribution of Dugongs
Dugong is the only sirenian that lives in the waters of at least 37
countries throughout the world. The world distribution of dugong is
vast, covers the tropical to sub-tropical zone from the Red Sea to the
Vanuatu islands in the Western Pacific Ocean. The name ‘dugong’ has been
from the Malay word 'duyung'.
Pacific Islands
Dugongs are found in fragmented and scarce parts all along the Pacific
Islands. Dugongs are present all along the coast of Papua New Guinea. A
survey made in 1976 spotted some 186 dugongs present in this region.
Dugongs are also present in the Salomon Islands, New Caledonia, Palau
and Vanuatu.
Australia
There are three areas in the western region of Australia having a high
concentration of the mammal dugongs, Shark Bay, Ningaloo Marine Park and
Exmouth Gulf and the coast from Exmouth Gulf to De Grey River. Survey
made in the 1999 found almost 14,000 specimens of dugong in the Shark
Bay.
While surveys made on the Ningaloo Marine Park and Exmouth Gulf and the
coast from Exmouth Gulf to De Grey River have spotted 1,000 and 2,000
specimens of dugongs respectively.
The other Australian regions that have noted concentration of dugongs
include Northern Territories and Gulf of Carpentaria, like Gulf of
Carpentaria of the Northern Territory, Torres Strait and North East.
Torres Strait which separates Australia form Papua New Guinea has the
highest concentration of dugongs in the world.
Western Region
According to an aerial survey made in Saudi Arabia in 1986, it was found
that approximately 1800 specimen of dugongs are found in the Red Sea
area. However, there are no accurate studies of the presence of this
water mammal along the African coast, but a survey had estimated
presence of over 4,000 specimens.
Following the Australian coast, the second largest community of dugong
is found in the Arabic Gulf. According to an aerial survey made in 1986,
the highest concentration of dugong is found in the wide bay west of
Qatar and in Abu Dhabi. Two more aerial surveys done in 2000 and 2001
found 2,000 specimens of dugong in Abu Dhabi.
Though around 500 dugongs were sighted in 1967 in Somalia and Kenya,
there has been a striking decline in the number.
East and South-East Asia
Indiscriminate hunting in the East and South-east Asia regions has
resulted remarkable drop in the number of dugongs. Though dugongs are
present in both Malaysia and Singapore, the number is not so prominent.
In the east Malaysia and Brunei, the number of dugongs has reported in
the regions of Sabah, in Kota Kinabalu, Kudat, Sandakan and Semporna and
also in Brunei.
In Philippines, the places with the largest dugong concentrations
include the island of Palawan, the north east coast of Luzon as well as
the coasts south of Mindanao.
India
Following an indiscriminate hunting for many decades, dugongs were
almost extinct in India. The only surviving population of dugong exists
in the north-west of India, in the Gulf of Kutch. Until the year 1950,
dugongs made a prominent presence in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands,
however, a study made in 1999 revealed presence of only 100 individuals.
Dugongs are considered extinct in the Laccadive and Maldives Islands.
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