Never heard of a dugong? This photo took top-10 honors in the most recent FrontLines photo contest. Dugongs, a type of large marine mammal caught by the residents of Maliangin, Malaysia, are now released within the Maliangin marine sanctuary as a result of the USAID and World Wildlife Fund Coral Triangle Support Partnership. The collaboration helped support community education and awareness. Members of this community now understand the importance of protecting endangered species and the benefits of marine sanctuaries, and their efforts will help increase biodiversity and conserve the marine environment.
Dugong being released into the Maliangin marine sanctuary. Photo credit: Robecca Jumin/ WWF-Malaysia
Check out winners from the FrontLines environment photo contest to find out ways USAID, its partners and local communities are working to conserve the environment and mitigate climate change – including helping protecting the habitat of dugongs. This year, to celebrate Earth Day on April 22 and World Environment Day on June 5, FrontLines and USAID’s Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade teamed up for a photo contest focused on the environment. The winning images depict wildlife and their habitats, conservation efforts and activities that aim to address climate change. The contest attracted nearly 150 photos from all areas of the globe and from a wide range of USAID projects.
See the winning photos.
