When the Dugong dugon Return

The Science and Technology Bulletin No. 4/2024 introduced the findings of the provincial-level scientific research project titled “Assessment of the Current Status of the Dugong Population and Seagrass Ecosystems in Con Dao, and Proposed Management and Conservation Solutions.”
The project was conducted by scientists from the Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology (formerly the Institute of Marine Resources and Environment).

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Quan, the project’s principal investigator, Dugong, also known as the sea cow, is a rare marine mammal classified as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List (2023). Dugongs are medium-sized herbivorous mammals, with adults reaching about 4 meters in length and weighing around 400 kilograms. They primarily feed on seagrass.
In Vietnam, Dugongs have been recorded in the Con Dao and Phu Quoc marine areas. Among these, Con Dao offers highly favorable conditions for the growth of seagrass meadows, which serve as essential habitats for endangered marine species such as sea turtles and Dugongs.

The study identified that around 12 individual Dugongs are regularly present and feeding in the seagrass beds managed by the Con Dao National Park. They are most frequently observed in Con Son Bay, Six Senses Beach, and Bay Canh Islet. Occasional sightings were also reported at Bai Nhat, Ben Dam Port, Dam Trau Beach, and Cape Ca Map, although at lower frequency.

During the project implementation, the research team worked closely with the Con Dao National Park Authority to conduct a range of awareness and education campaigns aimed at local residents and visitors, while also proposing integrated management measures for the conservation of this precious marine mammal population.
The project’s outcomes and materials were officially transferred to the Con Dao National Park by the Ba Ria–Vung Tau Department of Science and Technology, for direct application in field management and conservation of the wild Dugong population.

The combined results of scientific research and strengthened management efforts by local authorities and the National Park have led to the reappearance of Dugong herds in Con Dao waters. Dugongs were observed again in Ben Dam and Con Son Bay in February and May 2025. In some areas of Con Son Bay, groups of up to four individuals were seen surfacing together — calm, social, and notably friendly toward humans.

The Science and Technology Bulletin is pleased to share a few video clips capturing these precious moments of the Dugongs’ return, recorded by the Con Dao Cultural and Information Center and the Con Dao National Park, for readers to enjoy.

🔗 ISDI Science and Technology Bulletin: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1QJ7TawS8X/