Local knowledge about dugongs in Palau

Abstract

The Palau Conservation Society was contracted by The Nature Conservancy to conduct interviews with people knowledgeable about Palauan dugongs (Dugong dugon), known locally as mesekiu. The goal of the interviews was to obtain local knowledge about the habits, status and uses of dugongs in Palau. What comes through as a result of these interviews are some of the commonly held perceptions about dugongs in Palau, as well as some information about their preferred habitats and recent behaviors. The history of dugong hunting, uses and cultural value were also subjects of the interviews, enabling a comparison of some of the perceptions of changes that have occurred over time.