A Guide to Dugongs
Dugongs, sometimes referred to as ‘sea cows’, are marine mammals. They
belong to the Family Dugongidae. These large grey aquatic mammals have
rounded heads, small eyes and a large snout. Dugongs usually appear in
herds or groups. Their principal food is seagrass and they are mainly
herbivore and their position in the food chain is much like any big
grazing mammal, hence they are also called ‘cultivation grazers’. They
mainly live on vegetable matter and in case of scarcity of seagrass,
they eat algae.
Dugongs give birth to a calf once in every three to five years; it
depends upon the suitability of the food source. An individual dugong
may live up to the age of 70 or more.
Dugong has been listed as specie which is vulnerable to extinction. In
spite of being legally protected in various countries, there has been a
remarkable drop in the number of the dugongs. The reasons for this
decline in population are mainly man-made like indiscriminate hunting,
fish-related fatalities and habitat degradation.
In order to save these aquatic mammals from getting extinct, several
methods can be followed that includes helping in keeping seawater clean,
protecting seagrass, reducing rubbish, check in the boat speed,
spreading the word about the importance of this mammal in the ecosystem
and reporting in case of deaths.
In Australia, dugongs are present in Western Australia, North Coast from
Daly River to Milingimbi and Urban Coast of Queensland.
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