Aerial survey of the dugong (Dugong dugon Muller 1776) in coastal waters of the Lease Islands, East Inodonesia

Abstract

During December 1990 and August 1992, aerial surveys of dugongs were made along the coastlines of the Lease Islands in East Indonesia. The aerial surveys followed a strip transect covering the coastal shelf and totalled 3.5 h of observation. During the first survey, 17 dugongs were observed, one of which was a neonatal calf; during the second survey, 10 dugongs were seen but no neonates. The minimum population of dugongs was estimated to be between 22 and 37 animals. The population probably interacts with a larger unidentified reservoir of dugongs in the coastal waters of nearby Seram and Buru Islands.