GOLD COAST, Qld, (AAP) - A baby dugong being reared at Sea World could be vital to the long-term protection of the endangered species, Sea World Marine Sciences Manager Trevor Long said today.
Mr Long said there was little known about the species and the one-month-old male dugong, flown to Sea World early last month after it was found near Bundaberg, was providing a great deal of knowledge.
"We have had a tremendous amount of interest from the scientific community and zoological community," Mr Long said.
"We are in contact with the experts right around the world." Mr Long said the baby dugong was well, although there were "many hurdles" to cover.
"No-one has a (feeding) formula. We are designing a formula as we go. We are changing it as we go," he said.
"These animals suckle for 12 to 18 months ... so we have a long, long way to go."
Mr Long said netting and boat strikes of dugongs were reducing numbers and he expected more young to be found abandoned.
"The animal is an endangered species," Mr Long said.
"This is the second we have had in the last couple of years and I think we're probably going to see a re-occurance of this situation, so any information that we can gain, we can pass on."