Coral Reef Research Foundation Tracks Palau's Rarest Dugongs by Drone

Coral Reef Research Foundation, a Palauan nonprofit founded in 1991, uses drones and underwater time-lapse cameras to non-invasively study the behavior, distribution and habitat use of Palau's dugongs (locally called 'mesekiu') in the Ngederrak Conservation Area. Palau's dugongs are considered the most isolated - and possibly most critically endangered - dugong population in the world, threatened by illegal hunting and habitat loss despite full legal protection. CRRF pairs its GEF-funded research with school outreach and virtual-reality public events to revive community awareness and support for dugong conservation.