Frequent sightings of 'mermaids' at Yongshu Reef in Nansha Islands

Since mid-July, the environmental authority stationed on Yongshu Reef in the Nansha Islands, along with researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have been continuously monitoring the nearshore waters of the reef and have observed dugongs, which are nationally first-class protected animals.

Dugongs, believed to be the inspiration behind mermaids, are among the world's oldest marine mammals. They are mainly found in the shallow waters of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific. The species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In 2022, dugongs were declared functionally extinct along the Chinese mainland coast.

This recent discovery underscores the success of China's ecological conservation efforts in the Nansha Islands. According to the relevant official, there will be ongoing collaboration between the research center and the environmental authority aimed at providing scientific support for the protection of island and reef ecosystems.