Dugong

Photo: Luis P. B. · CC BY-NC

Dugongs are resident in Riung's protected seagrass beds, a population of approximately 15 to 20 individuals that represents one of the last healthy dugong communities in Nusa Tenggara. These ancient marine mammals graze on Halophila and Thalassia seagrasses in water so shallow that their backs occasionally break the surface, allowing observation from both the water and from island viewpoints. Their presence is a direct indicator of the park's exceptional water quality and the effectiveness of local protection, as dugongs are locally extinct from most heavily fished Indonesian waters.