Science Café in Okinawa: Discovering Dugongs
- 菊池夢美
- 8月31日
- 読了時間: 2分
On June 7, 2025, we held a Science Café in Miyako Island, Okinawa, with the theme “The Unknown World of Dugongs – Exploring Through Science and Culture.”
Participants joined both onsite and online, learning about dugongs from scientific and cultural perspectives.
What is a Dugong?
Dugongs (Dugong dugon) are large marine mammals closely related to manatees. They are gentle herbivores that live in shallow waters and feed mainly on seagrass.
With their rounded bodies and dolphin-like tails, dugongs are sometimes called the “real mermaids” of the sea.
While dugongs are found across the Indo-Pacific, Okinawa is the only place in Japan where they live. This makes them a very rare and important species for the country.
Dugongs in Danger
Dugongs are listed as a Vulnerable species by the IUCN.
Their population in Okinawa has declined due to coastal development, loss of seagrass meadows, accidental entanglement in fishing nets. Only a few individuals remain today, and they are protected as a Japanese Natural Monument.
Science Café Highlights
At the event, researchers shared:
Dugong biology and behavior – including their unique calls and what scientists are learning from them.
Okinawa’s cultural history with dugongs – from old legends and local stories to records of how people once lived alongside them.
Open discussion with participants – exploring why protecting dugongs matters and what their disappearance could mean for the ocean
Children and adults alike were fascinated, with many saying it was their first time learning about dugongs in detail.
Why Dugongs Matter
Dugongs are more than rare animals. They are part of Okinawa’s marine ecosystem and cultural heritage. If dugongs disappear, the balance of the coastal environment may also change in ways we cannot predict.
By protecting dugongs, we also protect the seagrass meadows, the marine biodiversity, and the future of Okinawa’s sea.
Dugongs are our neighbors in the ocean — let’s make sure they remain part of Okinawa’s story.