Rescued baby dugong under observation at Ocean Park

MANILA, Philippines - A stranded baby dugong that was recently rescued by a team from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will remain at the Manila Ocean Park while its condition is being monitored, an official said yesterday.

Director Theresa Mundita Lim of the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), an attached agency of the DENR, said the dugong, named “Binu,” will be kept in a facility of the Ocean Park for six weeks which they said is the critical period for the rescued seacow.

“We intend to release the dugong in the wild but for now, we have to make sure that it is stable before doing so. Several experts are now helping us in checking the male dugong’s condition,” Lim said in a press briefing.

The dugong – a critically endangered species – will be monitored at the Ocean Park, which is referred to as a marine center for rescued species. It is 1.06 meters long and weighs 18 kilos but would have to reach 25 kilos, which is its ideal weight, she said.

The baby dugong was found stranded by fishermen in Barangay Binulasan in Infanta, Quezon a week ago. The fishermen immediately sought help from the local DENR office. It was found out later that the dugong bore scars.

Lim added that they are feeding Binu S26 Gold, an infant formula recommended by colleagues from other countries.

Rizza Salinas, officer-in-charge of the BMB Wildlife Rescue Center, said the lactose-free milk “is what we found closest to what is needed by Binu.”

Lim said once Binu starts eating seagrass, they can say his condition is stabilizing.

Romeo Trono, consultant of the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion Project, stressed that even if the dugong has already been released back in the wild, there is still a need to monitor its condition for two months.

“A satellite can be attached to the dugong, which can be released either back to its home in Infanta, Quezon or in Polillo Island where seacows are said to thrive,” he said.