Community Service and Empowerment (PPM) Enggano Island: Introducing Endangered Marine Mammals (Dugong dugon) to Students of SMPN 18 Enggano Island

On Monday (22/07/2024), a group of lecturers from the Marine Science Study Program at Bengkulu University conducted a community service activity at SMPN 18, Kahyapu Village, focusing on Introducing Marine Biota 2: Recognizing Endangered Marine Mammals (Dugong dugon) for the students of SMPN 18, Enggano Island. This activity involved three lecturers from the Marine Science Program, namely Nella Tri Agustini, S.Kel., M.Si as the team leader, along with members Mukti Dono Wilopo, S.Pi., M.Si, and Firdha Iresta Wardani, S.Tr.Pi., M.Si.

The team leader, Nella Tri Agustini, S.Kel., M.Si, stated that this activity continues the Marine Biota Introduction 1 program held in 2023 in Kahyapu Village, Enggano Island. The team taught the students of SMPN 18 about the endangered marine biota (dugong) as part of efforts to support the sustainable conservation of dugongs.

The students of SMPN 18, Enggano Island, were very enthusiastic and actively participated in this community service activity. This was evident during the discussion session, where many questions were raised by the students regarding dugongs and their habitat. The importance of education on marine biota introduction from an early age is one of the efforts to support the sustainable management of marine biota. It is hoped that the students will become more aware, care for, and protect the conservation of marine biota from an early age, especially for endangered and protected marine biota such as the Dugong marine mammal.