Do you think there are really dugongs in the Okinawa waters?

[Writer Sterling]

Do you guys think there are dugongs, a manatee like marine animal, in the oceans of Okinawa? I have looked for them in the Northern part of the island, near Kaio, and to no avail. I once even was told, if there is a spot you will find a dugong, it will be here, and never saw one.

I asked some locals and they laughed at me like I was a buffoon. Then I was going to do a news story on the topic, and get some footage of dugongs in the ocean, but a man, the so called resident Okinawa dugong expert, told me the only way he could take me is by canoe, or I would have to rent a helicopter.


What gives? Anyone ever see one of these creatures?


Samy

[dk]

I've never actually seen one in the Okinawan waters. Just at Expo. But I'm sure they're around. Aren't there only like 50 total in existance?

[socalheart]

I didn't know that a manatee is a dugong (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dugong). Very cute, huh? :D
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Dugong.jpg
Dugong in captivity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dugong)
There are only 5 dugongs that are held in captivity in the world. Two are the featured attraction of Toba, Mie Toba Aquarium in Japan; the third, named Gracie, is at Underwater World, Sentosa Island, Singapore; and the last two are found in Sea World, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Migration (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dugong)
During the winter, a few packs of dugongs will move to warmer places in the northern countries, such as bays and canals and others will also go to man built radiators for warmth. Dugongs also live in warmer waters of many other countries near the Equator.

[TheNoNamedOne]

Do you guys think there are dugongs, a manatee like marine animal, in the oceans of Okinawa? I have looked for them... and never saw one.

What gives? Anyone ever see one of these creatures?

Samy

When they first started reporting on them about 10 yrs ago, the time the push for getting Futenma relocated north came about, I at first doubted whether or not they existed. But since then there has been several documented filming of them.

I am convinced there is a small population of them. I've heard anywhere from 7 to 30. Maybe some of you have heard higher numbers. I would imagine, Samy, that they are just quite hard to find because of their very low numbers.

Will they be Okinawa's spotted owl -- keeping off shore construction for the heliport from going forward, like the owls did with shutting down lumber operations in the northwest of the U.S.? Personally, I wouldn't mind if they do. I look at the northern part of Okinawa as a jeweled crown sitting atop a head -- very beautiful. I would hope it could be preserved as it is and not developed into more concrete and noise.

[Muku]

Do you guys think there are dugongs, a manatee like marine animal, in the oceans of Okinawa? I have looked for them in the Northern part of the island, near Kaio, and to no avail. I once even was told, if there is a spot you will find a dugong, it will be here, and never saw one.

I asked some locals and they laughed at me like I was a buffoon. Then I was going to do a news story on the topic, and get some footage of dugongs in the ocean, but a man, the so called resident Okinawa dugong expert, told me the only way he could take me is by canoe, or I would have to rent a helicopter.


What gives? Anyone ever see one of these creatures?


Samy

Sammy, first off the area you were looking for them, which btw is spelled Kayo, is a bit north of the area that they have been regularly spotted. A person looking for them would need to be closer to Oura Bay.

I personally have not seen them other than the frequent "looks" that the local news media shows when discussing them and the proposed building of the airstrips off of Camp Schwab.

YET, I have it on extremely good authority that yes they do exist, from what I have been told, and that they have been sighted numerous times.


Sidenote here; かよ or Kayo vs かいお or Kaio, the pronunciations are similar and to the average listener probably sound the same. Next time if you head up that way look for the village sign, it is just after the Kanucha Hotel and Golf course on your right hand side before the old concrete remains of something that looks like and aquaduct. It is a small white sign with blue lettering.:)

Oh on a seperate note; Thank you!:D:thumbup1:

[Muku]

Manatee House (http://www.kaiyouhaku.com/en/park/index.html)

socalheart dont know if you knew this but there is a manatee house near the aquarium at Expo.

I also seem to remember that recently one of them died while in capativity. Also if memory serves me correctly it died from old age.