The 2-meter-long dugong was found stranded and exhausted on the beach opposite Phu Hai prison camp on the afternoon of 19/8, after the tide had receded.

Locals try to rescue the dugong. Photo: Hac Minh

Locals poured water on the dugong to keep it cool and notified the authorities. A rescue effort followed, but was unsuccessful. The dugong's carcass was then transported for burial.

The dugong (Dugong dugon), also known as the sea cow, is a herbivorous mammal that lives in the shallow coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific. Adults can grow to 2.4-2.7 meters long, weigh up to 400 kg, and live for up to 70 years.

In Vietnam, dugongs were once widely distributed but are now found only in Con Dao and Phu Quoc. The species is listed as "vulnerable" in the IUCN Red List and belongs to group IB of endangered, rare, and prohibited species in Vietnam.

Truong Ha