The locals saw the dugong lying on the beach on August 19, exhausted, as the tide receded. It was around two metres long and weighed nearly 300 kilogrammes.
Several people tried to rescue the animal by pouring water over its body, but failed to save it.
The dugong dies after becoming stranded on a beach in Con Dao Island on August 19. (Photo by NLD)
The Con Dao National Park Management Board, together with local authorities and residents, brought the dugong’s carcass ashore for handling in accordance with regulations.
Dugongs are gentle marine herbivores that dwell in shallow coastal waters rich in seagrass, mangroves, or coral reefs. Often called mermaids for their human-like grace in the water, they carry deep cultural and spiritual significance in many countries.
Today, only about 50,000 dugongs remain worldwide, distributed across waters from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific.
In Vietnam, the species is found only around Phu Quoc and Con Dao islands, and is classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, making it a strictly protected species.