Wild Dugong Welfare and Seagrass Decline

Dugongs are marine herbivores facing welfare challenges from seagrass decline, boat strikes, and entanglement in fishing gear across their Indo-Pacific range.

Key Facts

Dugongs are listed as Vulnerable globally with an estimated 100,000 remaining
They feed exclusively on seagrass and can consume up to 40kg daily
Seagrass meadows are declining globally from coastal development, nutrient pollution, and climate change
Dugong boat strike injuries are a significant mortality cause in tourist-heavy coastal areas
The Torres Strait and Shark Bay in Australia support some of the largest remaining dugong populations

Welfare Considerations

Dugongs injured by boat propellers experience traumatic wounds similar to those seen in manatees. Entanglement in shark nets and gillnets causes drowning distress in air-breathing mammals. Seagrass decline forces dugongs to travel further for food, increasing energetic stress. Food-stressed dugongs are more vulnerable to disease and have reduced reproductive success. Protecting seagrass habitat is both a conservation and welfare intervention that addresses the primary drivers of dugong suffering.

What You Can Do

Support seagrass restoration programmes in dugong habitat areas
Slow down in dugong areas and observe posted speed restrictions
Advocate for removal of shark nets that entangle dugongs and other non-target wildlife
Reduce coastal water pollution through appropriate waste management
Support research into dugong population dynamics and health monitoring