Puteri Kapas, the baby dugong has left us

The strayed baby dugong died just 3 weeks after being rescued by the State Fisheries Department. The calf was confined in a swimming pool near Pulau Gemia and fed goats milk. Terengganu Agriculture and Regional Development committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jididn Shafee said the Turtle and Maritime Ecosystem Center would reveal the autopsy results in one or two days time on the 9th Sept. However 2 weeks have passed and the autopsy result has still not been published... A few days before the death of the calf dugong, many people have raised their concerns for its life. It is believed that the death of the baby dugong was associated with mishandling.

7 Sept 2006 The baby Dugong which was rescued 24 Aug died. "Precious time was wasted and the animal was denied its chance for rehabilitation and survival," said Daren Chow. The state had allocated an interim fund of RM140,600 to ensure her survival and declared the dugong calf as its "adopted child". Idris has requested the State Fisheries Department to submit an autopsy of the calf dugong. For more please read here 4 Sept 2006 2 weeks after keeping Puteri Kapas in the swimming pool, the authorities have not made the decision on how and who is best to handle the baby Dugong calf. Concerns have been raised that the life of the calf was endangered, i.e. the condition of the pool was sometimes too warm and there was lack of care from experts. For more please read here 28 Aug 2006 Mentri-Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh promised to take all measures so Puteri Kapas will not have the same fate as Si Tenang a Dugong calf found in Johor water, but died 2 days after being released into the wild. For more please read here 24 Aug 2006 The female calf was rescued by the State Fisheries Department. The dugong calf was confined to the swimming pool of a resort in nearby Pulau Gemia, under the care of Turtle and Marine Ecosystem Centre (Tumec). 12 Aug 2006 A strayed baby Dugong was sighted at Pulau Kapas.