A juvenile dugong carcass was discovered floating off Bedok Jetty on June 6, marking Singapore’s first recorded sighting of the marine mammal since 2021. The animal, estimated by witnesses to be approximately 2m long, was found by local fishers before washing ashore at East Coast Park.
What happened at Bedok Jetty?
The discovery occurred at about 4.50pm while 19-year-old Republic Polytechnic student Jeremy Mark Ang was fishing at East Coast Park with friends. The group initially mistook a large, pale shape bobbing in the water for a big fish, but they were shocked to realize it was the bloated carcass of a dugong.
Ang noted that the animal appeared to have plastic wrapped around its tail and abdomen.
“I really couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw it. It was quite sad because I know that they’re really rare, both in Singapore and in general,” Ang said.
After the group’s initial sighting, the carcass eventually washed ashore. It was discovered further along the East Coast Park beach at about 7.30pm by passers-by Saachi Iyer and Naina Dadlani.
Why are dugong sightings in Singapore significant?
Dugongs, also known as sea cows, are elusive creatures that typically graze on seagrass meadows. While they are classified globally as vulnerable to extinction, they are considered critically endangered in Singapore. This finding is particularly notable as the last known record of the species in Singapore was a carcass found off Pulau Hantu in 2021.
Marcus Chua, a mammal curator at the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, identified the animal as a juvenile.
“Dugong sightings or strandings are rare in Singapore, and it is rather unfortunate as we would rather see them alive on our shores,” Chua said.
Experts suggest that these deaths are often linked to human activity. According to Sirius Ng, a dugong researcher at NUS, dugongs found dead or in need of help in Singapore are frequently linked to:
- Vessel strikes
- Entanglement with fishing gear
Ng noted that calves account for a majority of such records in Singapore, which mirrors a concerning trend of increased calf stranding rates observed in dugong populations throughout the Arabian Gulf and South-east Asia.
What is being done with the remains?
To gather information from the carcass, Chua stated that samples were extracted with assistance from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. These samples will be preserved for research at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum.
However, the museum will not be salvaging the rest of the animal’s remains. Chua explained that the decision was made due to the highly decomposed state of the carcass and because the museum already has a recent specimen from 2021.
How can the public contribute to research?
The discovery may highlight the importance of ongoing conservation efforts. In January, the National Parks Board announced it is drawing up an advisory to inform developers on methods to avoid harming marine mammals that frequent Singapore’s coastal waters.
Members of the public can assist future research by submitting sightings of large marine animals—including turtles, rays, and dugongs—to the Mega Marine Life in Singapore database.
