Sea World's Vet Quarantine Centre Adopts Week Old Dugong (Manatee Relative)

By Renee Soutar

Gold Coast, Australia - A baby Dugong that washed up on a beach in Townsville is residing at Sea World’s Vet Quarantine Centre after being flown to Brisbane and transported to Sea World late on Sunday night.

The male Dugong, thought to be approximately 1 week old, was found by Townsville residents mid Saturday afternoon in the shallows of Three Mile Creek, Pallarenda, just north of Townsville.

A Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Officer said that the Dugong had a number of injuries and was very dehydrated.

“The male Dugong had a number of gouge marks from the tusks of other Dugongs, which happens when a baby is separated from its mother”, he said.

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service contacted Sea World and a decision was made to transport it to Sea World where it would be cared for by vets and other staff experienced in rearing young Dugongs.

Special arrangements were made on Sunday night with Qantas to fly the Dugong to Brisbane.

Sea World Director of Marine Sciences Trevor Long said that the Dugong was being bottle fed a special milk formula every two hours.

Mr. Long said that the first month will be critical to the young Dugong’s survival, needing around the clock intensive care.

“He’s been lucky so far, so many people have gone out of the way to help him. I’d like to thank CASA, Qantas, Qantas Operations Sydney, Townsville Airport management and staff and the staff at Reef HQ who did a tremendous job nurturing this young Dugong and keeping his stress to a minimum”.

To view Sea World's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to:  http://www.zandavisitor.com/forum-207-Animal_Show_or_Attraction&facsort=faclocation