Researchers from Marine Conservation Cambodia recently captured a rare moment when a dugong was spotted swimming with a pod of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins off the coast of Cambodia. This unique interaction between the endangered dugong juvenile and another species has left scientists puzzled. Dugongs, also known as Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphins, are more likely to stay with their mothers in Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin pods. However, this sighting raises questions about the behavior and dynamics between these two endangered species in the waters off Cambodia’s coast.
Becky Chambers, a scientist leading the marine mammal conservation project at MCC, expressed excitement at seeing young dugongs during their surveys in southern Cambodian waters but was unsure of the reason behind this interaction. Both dugongs and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins are endangered, and it is unclear whether their interactions are beneficial or harmful. Dugongs are threatened with extinction due to factors like getting caught in fishing nets. The population of dugongs in the wild is unknown, but they are considered severely fragmented. In rare cases, dugongs have been known to hybridize with Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, although the baby in the pictures exhibited all the characteristics of a dugong. The researchers are uncertain whether the humpback dolphins are trying to care for or harm the young dugong.
Chambers mentioned that Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins might attempt to separate the mother and baby dugongs, possibly out of competition. Despite this, the young dugong was seen alive nearly a month later, indicating that it survived its time with the humpback dolphins. This sighting raises questions about how these two species interact in their natural habitat and what impact it may have on their survival.
The researchers shared photos of this unusual interaction on social media, hoping to raise awareness about these two endangered species and their interactions in southern Cambodian waters.
In conclusion, this interaction between an endangered dugong juvenile and another species has left scientists puzzled about how these two species interact in their natural habitat. While both dig
