Dugongs Found in Numbers Rarely Seen Anywhere Else

A scientific expedition to remote waters in Indonesia’s Southwest Maluku region has identified what researchers describe as one of the country’s most significant dugong habitats, underscoring both the ecological importance of the area and the mounting threats facing the vulnerable marine mammal.

The Romang–Damer 2025 Conservation Area Expedition, conducted from Oct. 3 to Nov. 3, 2025, found dense seagrass meadows supporting an unusually high concentration of dugongs around the islands of Romang and Damer, officials said. The findings were released on Feb. 5, 2026, by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries in collaboration with WWF-Indonesia.

Researchers recorded sightings of up to 32 dugongs in a single area, a figure scientists said is rarely documented globally and indicates an intact and productive seagrass ecosystem.

“We found the largest dugong habitat,” said Candhika Yusuf, acting director of WWF-Indonesia’s Marine and Fisheries Program. “However, this miracle is being jeopardized by destructive fishing practices carried out by outsiders, as well as plastic waste and ghost nets.”

Dugongs (Dugong dugon), often referred to as sea cows, are slow-moving marine mammals that feed exclusively on seagrass. Indonesia legally protects the species, but its population remains poorly documented nationwide. Conservationists consider dugongs a key indicator species, as their survival depends on healthy, continuous seagrass meadows.

During the expedition, scientists documented nine of Indonesia’s 14 known seagrass species, with coverage exceeding 50 percent in several locations. Such conditions provide essential feeding grounds for dugongs and support broader marine biodiversity, including fish stocks vital to coastal communities.

The expedition also recorded other protected and threatened species, including sea turtles, sharks, dolphins and large marine mammals, highlighting the ecological value of Southwest Maluku’s waters, which are influenced by nutrient-rich currents connecting the Banda Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Government officials described the findings as a scientific milestone that should guide future marine management.

“The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries continues to promote marine protected area management based on scientific data, with communities as the main actors,” said Koswara, Director General of Marine Spatial Management at the ministry. “The results of the Romang–Damer Expedition are an important contribution for decision-making at both national and regional levels.”

Koswara said the region’s relatively intact condition reflects limited industrial activity and the continued role of local stewardship. However, he warned that increasing external pressures could undermine these ecosystems without stronger oversight.

Dugongs are especially vulnerable to human activity. They are frequently injured or killed after becoming entangled in fishing nets or colliding with boats, while seagrass habitats are damaged by destructive fishing methods, sediment runoff and marine debris. Abandoned fishing gear, known as ghost nets, can remain in shallow waters for years, posing a persistent threat.

In parts of Southwest Maluku, customary practices such as Sasi, a traditional system regulating resource use, have historically helped protect marine ecosystems. Local communities on Romang and Damer have long discouraged the exploitation of key species, including dugongs, through cultural norms and taboos.

Conservation groups say these traditions remain a crucial foundation for protection but must now be reinforced by formal monitoring and enforcement as outside fishing activity increases.

“With growing pressure from illegal and destructive fishing, these habitats face real risk,” Candhika Yusuf said. “Strengthening community-based monitoring is essential to ensure long-term protection.”

WWF-Indonesia said it plans to expand conservation outreach in the region through the Kalwedo approach, which integrates local cultural values into environmental education, particularly for younger generations.

Dugongs reproduce slowly, with females giving birth to a single calf after a long gestation period, making population recovery difficult once numbers decline. Scientists warn that even small increases in adult mortality can have long-term consequences.

For conservationists and policymakers, the expedition’s findings represent both hope and urgency. While the Romang and Damer waters remain among the best-preserved dugong habitats in Indonesia, experts caution that without swift and coordinated action, the species could face the same decline seen in other parts of the country.

“What we are seeing now is rare,” one researcher involved in the expedition said. “The decisions made in the coming years will determine whether dugongs continue to survive in these waters or gradually disappear.”

Despite pockets of well-preserved habitat such as those found in Southwest Maluku, dugongs remain under pressure across much of Indonesia. National population figures are not precisely known, but experts agree the species has declined in many coastal areas due to seagrass loss, accidental capture in fishing gear and increasing marine traffic. Dugongs are fully protected under Indonesian law, yet enforcement challenges persist in remote regions. Conservationists warn that without stronger habitat protection, stricter control of destructive fishing practices and sustained community involvement, Indonesia risks losing local dugong populations even as isolated strongholds continue to survive. (Wage Erlangga)