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Dugongs are large marine mammals often called sea cows due to their herbivorous diet and slow, gentle nature. They are related to both manatees and—surprisingly—elephants. They live in warm coastal waters from East Africa to Australia, grazing on underwater grasses as their main food source.
- About Dugongs
- Threats to Dugongs
- References
Australia is home to the world’s largest dugong population with more than 100,000 thought to live in the Torres Strait.Dugongs diet consists almost entirely of seagrass.Dugongs can live for around 70 years, but they are slow to mature, with females reaching breeding age at around 10 years.Females only give birth to a single calf every 3-7 years. The calf will stay with its mother for two years.While some of Australia’s dugong populations are healthy, others, such as on the Southern Great Barrier Reef, are in decline. Commercial gillnet fishing is a major threat to dugongs in Queensland. Dugongs are air breathing marine mammals, and are easily entangled in fishing nets and drown. Some areas along the eastern Queensland coastline are close...
Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (2021) ‘Dugong’ Available at https://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=28Queensland Government (2021) ‘Nature Conservation Act 1992’ Available at https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1992-020Marsh H, Sobtzick S (2019) Dugong Dugon. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T6909A160756767.en.Department of Agriculture Water and the Environment (n.d.) ‘Dugongs’ Available at https://www.environment.gov.au/marine/marine-species/dugongsAug 22, 2022 · This makes Australia the largest and globally most important refuge for dugongs. The sensitive ecological status of these animals globally highlights the need for effective management strategies to protect and conserve the Australian population.
Dugongs are culturally significant to many coastal First Nation communities. The dugong’s distribution stretches across the Indo-Pacific region. Within Australia, it is found from Moreton Bay on the Queensland coast across northern Australia to Shark Bay in Western Australia.
Dugongs undertake long-distance movements, which means Australia shares populations with other neighbouring countries. In Australia, dugongs occur in the shallow coastal waters of northern Australia from the Queensland/New South Wales border in the east to Shark Bay on the Western Australian coast.
Feb 27, 2024 · The dugong is a cultural keystone species to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living along the Reef and is the world’s only strictly herbivorous marine mammal. They play an important role in the health of seagrass meadows through seed dispersal and germination.
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Sep 25, 2024 · Why Australia’s Exmouth Gulf is a biodiversity hotspot. ... establish their important environmental values, and demonstrate the ecological significance of specific areas. ... dugongs, turtles ...
