Dugongs occurred in almost all coastal areas from southern Mozambique in the west to Australia in the east, including many of the island States in the Indian and Pacific Oceans between.
However, through much of this range, dugongs have all but disappeared and where they occur, are represented by relict populations.
This is especially true for Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean and Mascerine Islands.
In most areas dugongs have been extirpated and only in southern, central Mozambique, the Bazaruto Archipelago, does a relatively large number still survive.