Dead baby dugong found washed up at Mandorah

Exactly what killed a baby dugong found washed up on a Top End beach still remains a mystery. But authorities have a heartbreaking theory.

The possible cause of death of a baby dugong washed up on a Territory has been revealed after a local’s grim find.

News of the dead calf at Mandorah was posted to NT Field Naturalists’ Club Inc’s Facebook page on Thursday along with photos of the dugong, which appeared to be covered in cuts and gouges.

Simon Walford, who found the calf while collecting rubbish and fishing line on the beach, said he often saw dugongs at Mandorah Jetty but had never come across one dead.

“(I’ve) seen a turtle with an entangled fin in line … but never a deceased dugong here before,” he said.

A baby dugong was found washed up at Mandorah on Thursday. Picture: Simon Walford

Mr Walford said he believed the animal may have attacked by a small crocodile.

“(It) may have tried to find sanctuary in the creek to recover during the rough weather and just got caught up there.”

An Environment Department spokeswoman said the dugong calf had been removed from the beach.

“It appears to have been dead for a couple days and was in an advanced state of decomposition,” she said.

An Environment Department spokeswoman said the dugong had likely been separated from its mother during a recent storm and was unable to survive. Picture: Simon Walford

“The carcass will be examined by staff and then disposed of.

“While there is no visible cause of death it is likely it was separated from its mother during the storm activity and was unable to survive on its own.”

The spokeswoman said it was important to remove carcasses from beaches to avoid attracting crocodiles.

Dugongs are classed as a vulnerable species and feed almost exclusively on seagrass.

It is unclear how long the dugong had been on the beach.

Under section 211 of the Native Title Act 1993, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can legally hunt dugongs and sea turtles.