29 ~Dugong~

More about 29 ~Dugong~

**Dugong (Dugong dugon) - Indian Ocean & tropical coasts (Sri Lanka included) - vulnerable/declining locally

Status: Vulnerable / regionally critical in some seas (including parts of Sri Lanka).

Range / Countries: Tropical & subtropical coastal waters from East Africa to the Pacific (including Sri Lanka).

Habitat: Shallow seagrass meadows and coastal bays.

Diet: Herbivore - seagrass specialist.

Lifespan: 60-70 years possible.

Reproduction: Long gestation and slow reproductive rate (single calf after years).

Ecological role: Maintain healthy seagrass beds; seagrass supports fisheries and stabilizes sediments.

Main threats: Bycatch and entanglement, seagrass loss from coastal development, boat strikes.

Conservation notes: Protect seagrass habitats, reduce boat speeds in key areas, and community-based coastal management.

[Dugongs are slow, gentle seagrass grazers - a single dugong spends a lifetime shaping seagrass meadows that stabilize shorelines and feed fisheries. Public empathy for “sea cows” is high; art focused on seagrass restoration can be community-facing.]

2025 October 06