Using Gray Literature and Social Media Records to Help Identify Population Hotspots and Conservation Priorities for the Vulnerable Dugong, <scp> <i>Dugong dugon</i> </scp> (Müller, 1776) in Indonesia

ABSTRACT We compiled, collated, and annotated 1033 dugong records for the Indonesian archipelago for the period 2010–2022. The database comprises 337 incidental reports documented via various media sources and 696 cases based on publications and gray literature. Four of six apparent dugong hotspot areas were clustered around small archipelagos of the Banda Sea. Two others were clustered roughly 1000 km away around archipelagos at the opposite end of the Java Sea. Both Indonesian hotspot clusters were adjacent to recognized dugong hotspots located outside Indonesian waters. Notwithstanding known seagrass‐dependency, documented dugong records were not significantly correlated with seagrass abundance. Seagrass was most prevalent around small sparsely populated offshore archipelagos, where riverine freshwater and sedimentation were also less. Notwithstanding seagrass presence along the west coast of Sumatra, the area had limited connectivity to other dugong hotspots and was largely devoid of dugong records. Dugong size–structure data were bimodal and dominated by larger animals, suggesting either recent immigration or recent local decline in reproductive success. Most documented mortality records were on the north‐west side of the Java Sea and mainly due to entanglement bycatch. Citizen science, gray literature, and social media data have clear added value but the need for more quantitative, standardized, and reliable data are emphasized.