Dead dugong found in a mangrove area in Palawan

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro - A male sea cow or dugong was found dead in a mangrove forest near an old Vietnamese Refugee Camp in Barangay Bancao-Bancao, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

The dead sea cow was discovered by a fisherman around 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16.

The unidentified fisherman along with villagers immediately called village officials to report the discovery of the dead dugong.

Meanwhile, Jovic Fabello, spokerperson of Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) spokesperson, said the dugong measures two meters in length, weighs 250 kilos and has a body width of around 50 centimeters.

Fabello suspects the dugong died after being strangled in nets since the area has a lot of fish pens installed by fisherman.

He added that the common cause of dugong's death are fish pen entrapment and ingestion of plastic. — BAP, GMA News