Socio-cultural significance of Dugong dugon in Comoros and north-west Madagascar and the influence of taboos and religion on conservation status

We interviewed 256 fishers between the ages of 19 and 100 across the Union of Comoros (Moheli, Grande Comore, Anjouan) regarding knowledge about the sea cow or Dugong dugon; its distribution, behaviour, exploitation and... [ view full abstract ]

We interviewed 256 fishers between the ages of 19 and 100 across the Union of Comoros (Moheli, Grande Comore, Anjouan) regarding knowledge about the sea cow or Dugong dugon; its distribution, behaviour, exploitation and historic information including cultural significance. We interviewed a further 580 fishers in Madagascar at 15 distinct localities. Historic human migrations between these islands were the basis of common customs and traditions relating to the hunt, slaughter and consumption of this endangered species which is now rarely encountered given high historic exploitation rates. Taboos and religion played a historical role in some localities in banning or limiting the hunt and consumption of the species. The anthropomorphic nature of the dugong was well-recognized by many of the fishers interviewed, including lacrimation and human-like genitalia, leading to a number of associated rituals and legends demonstrating respect and sacredness for the species. Given the huge decline in the dugong populations across Comoros and Madagascar in the 20th century, primarily due to hunting and secondarily through accidental entanglement in gillnets, the majority of younger fishers had never seen/heard of the species and traditional and historical knowledge was only held by older fishers. These studies emphasize the urgent need for documentation of traditional knowledge before it is lost forever, its value in providing a historical baseline for endangered species and its potential application in species conservation programmes. The cultural scoping study launched by the Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project provides a framework with which to capture this knowledge from further localities worldwide.