Dugong Found Snared By Fishing Nets in Bali

Made Arya Kencana Jakarta Globe 14 Dec 09;

Badung, Bali. A young, wounded dugong was found struggling in fishing nets on Sunday, stranded on the Tanjung Benoa beach here on the island of Bali.

“We are trying to heal its wounds before returning it to its habitat,” Istanto, who heads the Bali Nature Resources Conservation Agency, said on Monday.

The marine mammal, weighing 30 kilograms, quickly became an attraction for the locals, who along with the fishermen had attempted to help it back to the sea.

Istanto said the dugong, which was suffering from a wound to its head, was found by fishermen and tourists, tangled in nets by fishing boats.

From its weight and length, fishermen estimated it was not more than 4 years old.

Gusti Putu Nuriatha, the head of Bali’s Fishery and Maritime agency, said the dugong was probably separated from its herd during migration.

The agency also warned people against eating the endangered mammal.

“It is a protected species. It should be handled in accordance with existing regulations,” Gusti said of the dugong, which are close relatives of the manatee.