Dugong surveys of Manus and Bougainville Islands, Papua New Guinea

Dugong dugon are the last extant species in the Family Dugongidae and are listed as Vulnerable to extinction by the IUCN Red List. The dugong population is believed to be in decline globally. Throughout its range, relic populations remain and are separated by large areas where populations have disappeared (Marsh & Lefebvre 1994). The degree of the decline of numbers or fragmentation of its range is not known for any country. For many countries the only information available is from incidental sightings, drownings and anecdotal information.