| Summary: | This thesis explores the cultural and environmental history of the
dugong in the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on maritime Southeast Asia,
British Australia, post-independence Malaysia, and Singapore. It argues that
knowledge related to the dugong in these regions was not uniform but rather
characterized by complex contradictions and negotiations among historical
actors. This study challenges the perception that knowledge, whether scientific,
private, or represented in the press, is a monolithic discourse constructed solely
by authority figures. Through an examination of the dugong's taxonomy,
ontology, population, and its role in environmentalism respectively, it explores
how understandings of the dugong have emerged through ongoing negotiation
across various segments of society. These negotiations are not strictly top-
down or bottom-up but must be understood within their respective historical
context. By highlighting the instability of debates surrounding the dugong
throughout history, this thesis emphasizes the importance of epistemic humility
in approaches to the conservation and management of marine mammals.
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