Record (Lizard Island Field Guide)

Record details

Dugong (species: Dugong dugon)
Observed by Anne Hoggett
Fri, 9 Dec 1994 12:00:00

Location details

  • Lizard Island, Queensland

  • Casuarina Beach

  • Marine specimens found at a depth between 0 m and 0 metres.

Details about the specimen

  • 1 specimen. (exact)
  • specimen alive when found.
  • specimen alive at end of the observation process.
  • specimen left in natural environment.
  • Reproduction was not occurring.

A small (1 metre long) dugong was found nearly dead on Casuarina Beach on 8 or 9 December 1994. It was sunburnt, dehydrated, and had a large shark bite on its side (teethmarks only, no flesh taken). People at LIRS nursed it overnight in the aquarium, feeding it soy milk and lettuce and making sure that it surfaced to breathe. It responded well and the following day we returned it to prime dugong habitat near the Jeannie River where at least one other dugong was seen.

Supporting photos