Wild Dugong Conservation: Sea Cows in Decline

Dugongs are marine mammals closely related to manatees that face welfare threats from boat strikes, fishing gear, and seagrass loss.

Key Facts

Dugongs are classified as Vulnerable with populations declining across their range from East Africa to Australia
They are the only entirely herbivorous marine mammal, grazing on seagrass beds
Dugong feeding leaves distinctive feeding trails visible from the air, useful for population monitoring
Boat strike injuries cause mortality and chronic disability in dugongs unable to avoid watercraft
Gill net entanglement drowns dugongs in fishing areas throughout their range
Seagrass loss from coastal development and water quality degradation removes their food source
Traditional hunting of dugongs by Indigenous communities continues in some areas under cultural use provisions

Welfare Considerations

Dugong welfare faces parallel threats to manatees given their similar ecology and vulnerability to human activities. Boat strike injuries cause acute trauma and chronic disability in animals that must surface regularly to breathe. Gill net entanglement drowns dugongs whose air-breathing requirement makes submersion for extended periods fatal. Seagrass loss creates nutritional stress as animals must travel further for food — an energy cost that reduces body condition and reproductive success. Climate-driven extreme weather events including cyclones destroy seagrass beds over large areas. The combined effect of multiple simultaneous stressors on populations already challenged by slow reproduction rates (one calf per 3-5 years) makes dugong conservation and welfare protection urgent.

What You Can Do

Support seagrass restoration programs in dugong habitat throughout the Indo-Pacific
Advocate for boat speed restrictions in areas with dugong populations
Support gill net phase-out programs and alternative gear provision for fishing communities
Donate to dugong conservation programs including those working in the Coral Triangle and East Africa
Learn about dugong ecology and share information about the threats this gentle species faces