SANDAKAN: One of the two stranded dugongs made a brief appearance at the waters off Kampung Sim-Sim here this afternoon.
District Sabah Wildlife department staff Awang Basah, who is part of the monitoring team of the dugongs, said both stranded mammals were not seen at all yesterday.
“This afternoon, a dugong was seen for few seconds around 2.45pm and then disappeared.
“While waiting for researchers from Universiti Malaysia Sabah to come, our department is monitoring the place and also advice villagers not to harm or feed the animals,” he said when contacted.
The department first received a report that a dugong was spotted at the shallow waters of the coastal village on Friday morning.
Its director Augustine Tuuga said there were two dugongs sighted based on latest report received.
Dugong is listed as totally protected species under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.
Based on a website by Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project, the species can be found at Mantanani and Mengalum islands in west coast of Sabah and Banggi island located north of Sabah.