dugongs in palau - C3

3.2 Methods
Interviews
A total of 47 men from 14 of Palau’s 16 states were interviewed between December 2002 and February
2003 by staff from the Palau Conservation Society (PCS). These men were fishermen who were identified
by community members as being knowledgeable about dugongs. Interview questions related to the
cultural significance of dugongs, past and present use and changes in behavior or distribution over time.
Incidental Sighting System
A reporting system for incidental sightings of dugongs by local residents was established by PCS so that
information on dugong locations and behavior could be stored over the long-term in a central database.
3.3 Results
Interviews
Sightings
Informants were asked to mark areas where they had seen dugongs on topographic maps. The areas
identified have been displayed below in Figure 8.
There is an obvious overlap between anecdotal sightings and aerial sightings, except for north-east
Babeldaob which was identified by interviewees, although no dugongs were sighted here from the air.
Dugongs may visit these areas at night or when waters are particularly calm as the coastline here, unlike
on the western side of Babeldaob, does not benefit from the protection of a barrier reef. There may have
been more difficulty sighting dugongs on the north east coast due to deeper waters in closer proximity to
the coast. This contrasts with the shallow wide lagoon on the west coast, in which dugongs may be more
vis ible from the survey plane.
Just over half of the men interviewed (53 %) thought that dugongs occupied the waters close to their State
all year round and 43 % had seen dugongs more than five times in the past year in the following states:
Aimeliik
Koror
Melekeok
Ngaraard
Ngchesar
Ngiwal
Peleliu
Ngerchelong
Ngeremlengui
Ngatpang
Most had never seen dugong feeding (77 %). The 19 % of respondents who claimed to have seen dugong
feeding, said they had been in the following states:
Airai
Koror
Melekeok
Ngaraard
Ngerchelong
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