Dugong's Digital Traces: Mapping Encounters through Digital Platforms and Alternative Literature

Dugong's Digital Traces: Mapping Encounters through Digital Platforms and Alternative Literature

Dugongs (Dugong dugon), or what are also often nicknamed sea cows or dugongs, are the only seagrass-eating herbivorous marine mammals that live in Indonesian waters. Dugongs belong to the order Sirenia and family Dugongidae. Dugongs are included in the Vulnerable (VU) species category on the IUCN Red List and are protected by the Indonesian Government. Even though dugongs are important and protected inhabitants of Indonesian waters, information regarding their population and distribution is still very limited and their exact numbers are not known. Efforts to monitor and protect dugongs are often hampered by various challenges in obtaining population and distribution data, including a lack of historical data. Often, data on dugong populations and distribution are incomplete or poorly documented. The lack of consistent records from the past makes it difficult for dugong observers to understand long-term trends in dugong populations and distribution.

Gambar 1. Penampakan dugong di Pantai Moronge, Desa Likuang, Kepl. Sangihe, Sulawesi Utara (Faishal Umar, 2023)
Figure 1. Appearance of dugongs at Moronge Beach, Likuang Village, Kepl. Sangihe, North Sulawesi (Faishal Umar, 2023)

Current developments in digital technology provide a digital interaction space that allows users to build relationships, participate, share and exchange information through social media and online news sites. We can access various types of information through social media and online news sites, including information about myths and facts about dugongs and encounters with dugongs. After searching, many news, photos, videos, stories and reports about dugong encounters in Indonesian waters are available on digital platforms from year to year.

With easy access to information on dugong encounters on the internet, YAPEKA took the initiative to collect data on dugong encounter cases taken from various sources on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, online news sites, as well as alternative literature that can be accessed on the internet such as research reports, theses and theses, conference papers, annual reports, government documents, and technical reports published by various agencies and organizations.

Also Read : Penelitian Bioakustik Dugong Di Indonesia

YAPEKA succeeded in collecting and compiling cases of dugong encounters spread across 24 provinces of Indonesia from 2010 – 2022. The number of dugong encounter cases that have been compiled is 1,033 cases consisting of 337 incidental reports documented via the internet and social media and 696 cases reported through scientific publications and gray literature sources.

Dugong Sightings Map
Figure 2. Dugong encounters from 2010 to 2022 with a total of 1,107 encounters.

In the process, apart from collecting and curating data on the location and time of dugong encounters, we also recorded various detailed information from each available encounter case report, such as the condition of the dugong when found, gender, size, and cause of death if in this case the dugong was found in non-living condition. Then we compiled the results of the data into a database of dugong encounters and carried out statistical analysis to determine trends from year to year and their relationship to the presence of seagrass at that location.

This data collection will continue and will develop a participatory platform that allows the wider community to contribute to reporting dugong encounters as one of the efforts to monitor dugongs in Indonesia. Through an approach that combines digital technology, community participation, and collaboration with various parties, it is hoped that we can obtain comprehensive and more accurate data regarding dugong populations and distribution.

YAPEKA

YAPEKA

YAPEKA is a non-profit organization engaged in Community Empowerment and Nature Conservation.

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YAPEKA
YAPEKA

YAPEKA is a non-profit organization engaged in Community Empowerment and Nature Conservation.

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