Dugong carcass found on Gurney Drive beach

New Straits Times 8 Dec 09;

GEORGE TOWN: The carcass of what is believed to be a metre-long dugong was washed ashore at Persiaran Gurney here yesterday.

The stench from the carcass, believed to be a few days old, attracted passers-by. It is learnt that the dugong died after it got entangled in a fishing net.

Historically, dugongs are common in shallow waters of Sabah and Sarawak. Today, sightings of them are rare.

Dugongs are referred to as sea cows because their diet consists mainly of seagrass.