Pulau Mantanani is a group of three isolated islands northwest of Kota Belud, 80 km north of Kota Kinabalu. It was so isolated in fact that not until recently, only a few locals knew the existence of the islands.But most popular attraction of Pulau Mantanani are the dugongs (sea cows). Here you can swim with them. The island is virtually unknown to most people, although the indigenous Ubian fishing tribe here have for years sighted dugongs.
The sheltered bays around the Mantanani Islands seem to provide the ideal habitats for dugongs. Sea grass beds are found on shallow sandy areas within the encircling fringing reef of the islands. A small human population has caused minimum pollution and there is little noisy boat traffic.
Near Mantanani Islands many local fishermen have seen dugongs for as long as they can remember, although the sightings are less frequent in recent times. Fortunately, the local people are not used eating dugongs.
The dugong (Dugong dugon) is endangered by hunting (men and sharks) and by destruction of its natural habitat.
In many regions worldwide dugongs are facing the threat of extinction, and it is likely that this is also the case in Sabah.
In the World Conservation Union Red Data book dugongs are listed as "vulnerable to extinction" and the international trade in dugong artefacts has been prohibited in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
The most famous dugong is Nicky, a young male dugong who frequents the warm tropical waters around the Mantanani Islands. Nicky gets his name from the small cut or "nick" in his left tail fluke, and this is the way you can recognize him. He is a juvenile male of about 2 meters (6.5 feet) in length - he still has much growing to reach maturity (mature dugongs are up to 3 meters or 10 feet long).
Usually you can see Nicky alone, although there are other dugongs in the vicinity. Sometimes you can see a mother and her calf.
