Urgent protection for Con Dao dugongs from extinction

According to Mr. Nguyen Khac Pho, Director of the Con Dao National Park Management Board: “The dugong population in Con Dao is at an alarming threshold.” Records show that the dugong (sea cow) population in Con Dao initially had more than a dozen individuals, but now only 8 remain. If more die, the risk of losing dugongs entirely in these waters is very high. Even more concerning is the possibility of mass deaths, which would pose serious challenges to conservation efforts.

Specifically, since the beginning of 2025, Con Dao has recorded 4 dugong deaths. On February 24 and May 12, individuals were found washed ashore with no signs of external force. On April 3, another was found dead in the Bai Vong – Co Ong area. Most recently, on August 18, one became stranded in Con Son Bay; despite being discovered and assisted, it did not survive. Its body remained intact, and the cause of death has not yet been determined. This series of events indicates that the dugong population in Con Dao waters is rapidly declining, while the cause of death remains unknown.

According to Mr. Pho, one possible cause of dugong deaths is the severe degradation of seagrass beds - their primary food source - due to pollution such as wastewater discharge. Tourism activities, local fishing, and the dense movement and anchoring of boats have also damaged these habitats. “The dugong population in Con Dao is very small and thinly distributed, making it highly vulnerable if the marine ecosystem is unsafe or polluted,” Mr. Pho noted.

To protect this fragile population, the Con Dao National Park Management Board has proposed an urgent, comprehensive “solution package.” The first priority is to quickly identify the causes of dugong deaths through in-depth examinations, establish a rapid response protocol for stranded dugongs, and set up a hotline for community reporting.

“At the same time, it is necessary to strictly zone off seagrass areas; ban the use of fishing gear that could entangle dugongs; regulate vessel speed and routes through their habitats; and install fixed mooring buoys to end free anchoring. Seagrass restoration must be goal-oriented: replanting in degraded sites, conducting regular monitoring of coverage, growth, and carrying capacity,” Mr. Pho stressed.

Strengthening awareness and community education is essential so that residents, fishers, tour guides, and visitors act more responsibly in protecting the marine ecosystem, with strict bans on fishing, net setting, or diving in dugong habitats.

In the long term, Con Dao needs a marine wildlife rescue center with the capacity to receive, rehabilitate, and release animals back into the wild. The center should also serve as a hub for data storage, research, knowledge-sharing, and partnerships with international scientific and conservation organizations in efforts to study, protect, and rescue dugongs.