The dugong, Dugong dugon, is Palau’s most endangered animal, and the population has declined significantly in recent years due to hunting. C3 collected information on dugong feeding areas by mapping and describing seagrass communities in the Malakal Harbor area, a site known to be an important feeding ground. We mapped the area using aerial photographs, manta-towing and underwater transects. We also participated as observers in a nationwide aerial survey of dugongs, conducted in March 2003 and spotted groups of dugongs around Ngederrak Reef (one of our survey sites).

In December 2002 Fish & Wildlife Rangers found an adult female dugong floating off the shore at Meyuns. C3 conducted an autopsy and took tissue samples to send to James Cook University, Australia for genetic studies and for information on the animal's reproductive history. The animal appeared to have drowned but there were no obvious signs of disease. It is possible that she was chased by poachers and died from exhaustion. She had been feeding prior to death and 30 lbs of sea grass were found in her stomach. Another necropsy was conducted on a young male dugong which was killed, possibly by collision with a boat in March 2003. We conducted micro-histological analysis of the stomach contents of both animals.