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Researchers find dugong population has halved in Gulf of Carpentaria
🇦🇺 Australia /Health & Science

Researchers find dugong population has halved in Gulf of Carpentaria

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Aerial surveys in 2025 estimated about 5,000 dugongs across the Gulf of Carpentaria, down by half from an estimated 10,000 in 2007.
  • Raw survey counts fell from 471 dugongs in 2007 to 305 in 2025, with the sharpest decline recorded in Queensland waters.
  • Scientists are still investigating the cause, while reporting major declines in the seagrass meadows dugongs rely on for food.

The Gulf of Carpentaria’s dugong population has been cut in half, according to aerial surveys conducted in 2025 by researchers from James Cook University and Charles Darwin University, working with Indigenous ranger groups.

The surveys recorded an estimated 5,000 dugongs across the gulf, compared with about 10,000 in 2007. Researchers’ raw count found 305 animals in 2025, down from 471 in the earlier survey. Queensland waters saw the steepest change, with 63 dugongs recorded in 2025 compared with 231 in 2007.

In 2007 we had an estimated gulf-wide population size of about 10,000 dugongs, and looking at the numbers that we’ve got in 2025, we are looking at about 5,000 individuals across the gulf, so we have a reduction by half of population size.

— Chris CleguerThe James Cook University researcher described the estimated population decline.

Chris Cleguer of James Cook University called the result shocking, but said the 18-year gap between surveys made it difficult to establish the population’s trajectory or determine what caused the decline. “The analysis is ongoing; we still need to add more data to our analysis, but the numbers are concerning,” he said. Cleguer said regular surveys would be needed to track further changes.

The analysis is ongoing; we still need to add more data to our analysis, but the numbers are concerning.

— Chris CleguerCleguer cautioned that researchers were still assessing the cause and trajectory of the decline.

The Gulf of Carpentaria once held the world’s second-largest dugong population after the Torres Strait. Dugongs are listed as vulnerable in Australia and internationally. Charles Darwin University marine scientist Rachel Groom said recovery could take years because the animals live a long time, breed slowly and mature late.

Researchers have also documented major declines in seagrass meadows, which provide dugongs’ entire food supply. JCU scientist Alex Carter said cyclones, floods and strong winds had smothered seagrass in some parts of the gulf.

It is really concerning. They’re long-lived animals, they’re slow to breed and reach maturity, so that shift or decline in the population, we’re looking at years to recover.

— Rachel GroomThe Charles Darwin University marine scientist explained why the population may recover slowly.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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