Notes

Notes on stranded dugong in Pavillion Island, Taytay, Palawan, Philippines

Authors:
Lucila G. Candeleja¹, Helbert Garay², Kryzell Ann J. Trestiza³, and Reynante V. Ramilo^2
1DENR-CENRO Taytay, Palawan, Philippines
²Community Centred Conservation – Philippines, Taytay, Palawan, Philippines
³WPU Museum, Western Philippines University-Puerto Princesa Campus

ABSTRACT

A live stranding of a female dugong Dugong dugon (Müller, 1776) Palmer, 1895 occurred in Pavillion Island, Taytay Bay, Palawan on 11 July 2024. However, the weak animal died about two hours after it was spotted. It measured 2.75 m (straight total length) and weighed approximately 300 kg. Other than minor scratches on the skin, no signs of physical injury or evidence of fishery interaction were observed. During necropsy, nylon strands were found in the stomach extending to the small intestine. Although the cause of death remained inconclusive, this incident reflects the threats of discarded fishing nets and plastic pollution to large marine mammals like the dugong in Palawan waters.

Keywords: discarded fishing nets, marine mammal, plastic pollution, threatened species

^{Available Online: 23 January 2026}

How to Cite:
Candeleja LG, Garay H, Trestiza KAJ, Ramilo RV. 2026. Notes on stranded dugong in Pavillion Island, Taytay, Palawan, Philippines. The Palawan Scientist. 18(1):86-89. https://doi.org/10.69721/TPS.J.2026.18.1.09

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