What is it about?
Dugong populations are declining due to human activities. We used drones to capture aerial images of dugongs during mating behavior and identified stages of matting. We also found that tusk scars in dorsal regions could be used to track individual dugongs. This study demonstrates the usefulness of drones in monitoring and conserving dugong populations.
Featured Image
Photo by Ray Aucott on Unsplash
Why is it important?
There is scarce information on dugong reproductive behavior and populations are decreasing worldwide due to human activities. The use of drones to document mating behavior and track individual dugongs is a novel and cost-efficient method that could contribute to more effective conservation efforts.
Perspectives
The declining population of dugongs is concerning and this study provides valuable information on their reproductive behavior. The use of drones is a promising tool for monitoring and conserving these animals, and I hope this study inspires further research and conservation efforts for dugongs and other endangered species.
Dr Eduardo Infantes
Goteborgs Universitet
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Dugong (Dugong dugon) Reproductive Behaviour in Koh Libong, Thailand: Observations Using Drones, Aquatic Mammals, November 2020, Aquatic Mammals Journal,
DOI: 10.1578/am.46.6.2020.603.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
