DUGOING THE SEACOW OF THE OCEAN

 

• STATUS : Vulnerable

• SCIENTIFIC NAME : Dugong dugon

• WEIGHT : over 800 pounds

• LENGTH : nearly 10 feet

• HABITATS : Oceans

• POPULATION: 30,000.

Description: Dugongs are cousins of manatees and share a similar plump appearance, but have a dolphin fluke-like tail. And unlike manatees, which use freshwater areas, the dugong is strictly a marine mammal. Commonly known as "sea cows."

Habitat and range: Dugongs are usually located on sea grasses in shallow coastal waters of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.

Role in the ecosystem : Dugongs play an essential function in retaining coastal ecosystems. Their consistent shopping of seagrass encourages regrowth - making sure integral habitat and feeding websites for a host of different marine species, consisting of turtles, dolphins and sawfish.

The reason of decline : Dugongs are threatened through sea grass habitat loss or degradation due to the fact of coastal improvement or industrial things to do that reason water pollution. If there is now not adequate sea grass to consume then the dugong does now not breed normally. This makes the conservation of their shallow water marine habitat very important. They additionally frequently grow to be victims of bycatch, the unintended entanglement in fishing nets.

why we should care ?: If dugongs come to be extinct, the have an effect on will no longer be constrained purely to the truth that future generations will no longer get to see the marine mammal — their absence will nearly actually have an affect on the availability of sea fish, the staple weight loss program of hundreds of thousands of humans throughout the world.

Current conservation efforts : Biodiversity Education and Research (BEAR), a close by non-governmental organization, works on elevating cognizance and admire for dugongs in northwestern Sri Lanka. It has been local communities about that value of seagrass and dugongs for fisheries manufacturing and eco-tourism.

The study of geography aids: One of the methods I found interesting was the Toolkit that will exhibit you which methods are the most fine and environment friendly for your crew capacity, finances and timeline .

How you can help !

Protect Habitat: Avoid negative seagrass an do not drag boats over seagrass meadows.

Take motion to stop pollutants, vitamins and herbicides from agriculture and different land-based

things to do flowing into creeks and rivers.

Boatin: Look out for dugongs, specifically if you be aware of the location is shallow or includes seagrass.

If you see a dugong decrease your speed.

Reporting : Immediately file any injured or lifeless dugongs, turtles or dolphins through telephone on

1300 Animal (1300 264 625).

Spread Awareness : Post on your social media, tell your friends, and family. Letting everyone know helps

people become more cautious .

Educate yourself : Education yourself  and others on the issue which helps with donations and activist work. 

Sources :

http://www.conservation.tools/about-the-toolkit/

https://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/the-reef/animals/dugong

https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/dugong