Literature Review: Distribution and Feeding of Dugongs in Indonesia

This study examines the distribution and diet of dugongs (Dugong dugon) in Indonesian waters, a marine mammal protected under Government Regulation No. 7 of 1999 and categorized as endangered by the IUCN.Dugong populations have declined drastically due to various factors, including low reproductive cycles, destruction of foraging habitats, and illegal hunting.Dugongs swim alone or in small groups and often become stranded during migration.As the only marine mammal that relies 90% on seagrass for its diet, dugongs are nicknamed "seagrass specialists."Seagrasses, flowering plants that live in shallow waters, play an important role as habitat and foraging grounds for various marine biota, including dugongs.This study identifies seagrass species that have the potential to become dugong food and their distribution in Indonesia.Of the 72 seagrass species worldwide, 14 are found in Indonesia.Dugongs prefer fine-leafed, low-fiber, and nitrogen-rich seagrasses.The most preferred species include the genera Halodule and Halophila.Dugongs are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific.In Indonesia, its distribution includes Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Bali, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Maluku, and West Papua.The highest dugong population is estimated to be in the Arafura Sea ecoregion.Despite its widespread distribution, dugong populations in Indonesia have declined sharply due to habitat loss, hunting, and water pollution.This study concluded that dugong sustainability is highly dependent on protecting seagrass habitat, its primary food source.