Dugong dugon
Encounter Rate
Spotting Difficulty
Best Season
Year-round
Depth Range
0-10 meters
The dugong is one of the rarest and most extraordinary marine mammals that can be encountered in the waters around Komodo National Park. This gentle, rotund herbivore — sometimes called a sea cow — is the only strictly marine herbivorous mammal, spending its entire life grazing on seagrass beds in shallow coastal waters. Reaching lengths of up to 3 metres and weights of over 400 kilograms, dugongs have a distinctive rounded body, paddle-like flippers, a whale-like tail fluke, and a broad, bristled snout adapted for cropping seagrass from the bottom. In Komodo, dugong sightings are extremely rare and considered a true privilege, occurring occasionally in shallow bays with extensive seagrass beds. They are shy, slow-moving animals that surface to breathe every few minutes, leaving a distinctive trail of cropped seagrass and sediment clouds on the seafloor as they feed. Dugongs are culturally significant across their range and are believed to be the origin of mermaid legends — sailors glimpsing their form surfacing at twilight may have imagined they were seeing half-human, half-fish creatures. Sadly, dugong populations have declined drastically due to habitat loss, boat strikes, and entanglement in fishing nets.
Average Size
2.4-2.7m
Size Range
1.5-3m
Maximum Size
3m, up to 400kg
Strict herbivore feeding exclusively on seagrass. Grazes by uprooting entire plants with its muscular snout, leaving distinctive feeding trails on the seafloor.
The dugong is one of the rarest and most extraordinary marine mammals that can be encountered in the waters around Komodo National Park. This gentle, rotund herbivore — sometimes called a sea cow — is the only strictly marine herbivorous mammal, spending its entire life grazing on seagrass beds in shallow coastal waters. Reaching lengths of up to 3 metres and weights of over 400 kilograms, dugongs have a distinctive rounded body, paddle-like flippers, a whale-like tail fluke, and a broad, bristled snout adapted for cropping seagrass from the bottom. In Komodo, dugong sightings are extremely rare and considered a true privilege, occurring occasionally in shallow bays with extensive seagrass beds. They are shy, slow-moving animals that surface to breathe every few minutes, leaving a distinctive trail of cropped seagrass and sediment clouds on the seafloor as they feed. Dugongs are culturally significant across their range and are believed to be the origin of mermaid legends — sailors glimpsing their form surfacing at twilight may have imagined they were seeing half-human, half-fish creatures. Sadly, dugong populations have declined drastically due to habitat loss, boat strikes, and entanglement in fishing nets.
This species plays an important role in the marine ecosystem of Komodo National Park. Responsible diving practices help protect these animals and their habitat for future generations.
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Very unlikely — dugong sightings are extremely rare events. They are occasionally spotted in shallow bays with seagrass beds, but encounters are unpredictable and cannot be planned for. Consider any sighting an extraordinary privilege.
