Kampung Laut Sim-Sim, a water village near here was abuzz this morning after a dugong appeared there.

The Sandakan Wildlife Department sent members from Wildlife Rescue Unit rangers to monitor the situation.

Sandakan Wildlife officer Hussein Muin said monitoring was required because the mammal was listed under the 1997 Wildlife Conservation Enactment as a protected animal.

He said residents in the village had also been asked to cooperate and not to disturb the animal.

Hussein said the department had also discussed with the University of Sabah's Marine Faculty on the matter.

He said the UMS would send researchers to collect data on dugong for further research.

-- BERNAMA