Dugong is a large marine mammal which has been for long hunted for its meat 'n' oil. Many of its population are near extinction. It is concerned Threatened and is Vulnerable. Also called Sea Cow, Sea pig etc., though its Binomial name is Dugong Dugon. I chose this particular threatened beauty to draw interest of u guys that u dont even know how many of the species are threatened due to our causes. This one fascinated me much........It has a spindle like shaped body with no dorsal fin present, neither any hind limbs. Instead it has fore limbs shaped as paddles used by it for maneuvering itself.
Though being legally protected, the m
ain causes of population decline are still human activities including hunting, habitat degradation, and fishing related fatalities. Slow rate of reproduction and long lives of around 70 make it vulnerable to such fatalities. They are also threatened by storms, parasites as well as
ain causes of population decline are still human activities including hunting, habitat degradation, and fishing related fatalities. Slow rate of reproduction and long lives of around 70 make it vulnerable to such fatalities. They are also threatened by storms, parasites as well as [ though being very big ] natural predators like sharks, killer whales and crocodiles
Location The Dugong is heavenly dependent on sea-grasses for survival and is thus restricted to the coastal habitats where they grow. The largest Dugong concentrations occur in wide,shallow, protec
ted areas such as bays, mangrove channels, and near inshore islands. Its snout is sharply down turned, which is an adaption for eating the grass. It is the only sirenian in the range, which spans the area of at least 37 countries throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Mainly the dugong is present in the waters of Australia, between the Shark and Moreton Bay.
ted areas such as bays, mangrove channels, and near inshore islands. Its snout is sharply down turned, which is an adaption for eating the grass. It is the only sirenian in the range, which spans the area of at least 37 countries throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Mainly the dugong is present in the waters of Australia, between the Shark and Moreton Bay.Referred as Sea Cows due to mainly feeding on sea grass the dugong is very particular about its diet. Their primary feeding mechanism is uprooting sea grass by digging furrows in the sea bed with the help of their snouts
However, dugongs in Moreton Bay, Australia are omnivorous and due to the decline of the availability of sea gass of their liking. They feed on invertebrates such as polychaetes. As per as waer is concerned, they can go to any fresh water source for drinking. But the problem here is that these are decling and therefore a sharp decline in Dugong population is expected.
Conservation
Dugongs are hunted for their meat and blubber throughout the wildlife range. The sea grass they feed on are in danger due to Eutrophication caused by Agriculture and Industrial run off. As they feed in shallow water, they are many a times hit by motorised vehicles. Due to there huge size they have only a few predators, namely sharks, killer whales and saltwater crocodiles.
The US and japanese govt. plan to set up a military base on a coral reef near Henoko, in Nago country, Okinawa. This faced much protest from the Okinawans as this would destroy the local and natural environment of the Dugong. Greenpeace stepped in when the work recommenced in 2007.
Around the waters of Papua New Guinea natives have been known to hunt Dugong and its predaors for ages.
Diet: HerbivoreGroup Name : Herd
Weight: 510 to 1100 Lbs
Size: 8-10 Feet
Dugong' Size relative to a 6ft man:
