Severe Threats To Dugongs
Though dugongs are widely spread throughout the world, there has been
a sharp decline in their population. Dugongs are listed as vulnerable by
the World Conservation Union. In fact, they may face a high risk of
extinction in the near future. The reasons for their decrease in the
number can be attributed to man directly or indirectly, some of the
important reasons for their rapid decline in population are discussed
below.
Hunting
Dugongs have been hunted for food throughout the world for a long time.
Large scale hunting of dugongs has been practiced in the past and it is
still being carried out in many countries. The meat of dugong is
considered a part of the traditional cuisines in many countries that
include Pacific islands. Till the year 1980, dugong meat was widely
sold.
In fact, the meat of dugong is considered to be a good medicine against
various diseases. The thick and strong dugong skin is a valuable product
used by people of the Red Sea and North-East Africa for various purposes
and dugong oil is used for cooking and massaging.
The bones and tusks of dugongs are used for making ornaments, amulets,
jewellery and talismans. Hunting dugongs for both commercial and private
reasons have led to the drastic drop in their number.
Loss of habitat
The rapid habitat degradation that has taken place in the last 50 years
all over the world is one principal threat to dugongs. Both industrial
and building development along with urbanization, poor management of
agriculture, loss or destruction of mangroves led to land erosion and
increasing sedimentation which killed reefs and seagrass beds that form
the major food of the dugongs.
Tourism has also led to habitat degradation, the tourist wastes are
generally dumped into the sea, which results in harming the coral reefs
and the seagrass.
In addition, military bases and nuclear plants have also contributed to
habitat degradation. The hot water dumping from reactors have resulted
in increasing water temperature and salinity thereby endangering the
seagrass. Without seagrass, the dugongs are likely to starve to death.
Fishing
The increased fishing activity with the use of more and more large nets
is one of the principal reasons for the accidental deaths of dugongs.
The dugongs often become entangled and even die in gill, mesh nets and
shark nets set by humans. The mesh and gill nets are used to catch
sharks, in which these marine mammals get trapped and drown.
There are many Asian countries where fishermen implement illegal and
destructive fishing techniques like explosives and poison, which destroy
the coral reef and the seagrass bed. While in Philippines and Indonesia,
dynamites are widely used for killing dugongs.
Trawl nets that are often illegally used in shallow waters are one
important threat to dugong survival, as these nets damage and destroy
the only food of the dugongs, seagrass beds.
Boats and noises
Though dugongs generally live in areas having very low boat traffic,
ships and vessels pose a threat to the survival of the dugongs. Boats
speeding in shallow waters might hurt the dugongs and can even kill
them. In addition, boat noise can also disturb dugongs and can even
disrupt their feeding.
Weather events
Wild storms like typhoon that cause tidal surges can leave the dugongs
stranded on beaches and mudflats. The extra oil washing from the land
can also destroy the seagrass, which can cause the dugongs to starve.
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