The Dugong
This marine mammal is also commonly known as the sea cow because of it grazes on seagrasses. They are an endangered species.
They are listed as 'Vulnerable' in Queensland and Marine and Migratory nationally.
In 1995 they were listed as 'Endangered'
About as few as 85,000 individuals remain in the world.
In a detailed study on dugongs of the coast of Queensland, the population of Dugongs are marked as rapidly declinging.
In the early 1960s, there existed about 72,000 dugongs around Queensland.
In the mid-1990s, dugong population teetered on the brink of 4,220.
In 1986, in the area between Hinchinbrook Island (north of Townsville) and the southern boundary of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (north of Bundaberg) 3500 dugongs exist.
In 1994. 1700 individuals remain.
Even more drastically...
In 1988, dugongs in the Hervey Bay-Great Sandy Strait region numbered only 2200
that number fell to 800 in 1994.
They are listed as 'Vulnerable' in Queensland and Marine and Migratory nationally.
In 1995 they were listed as 'Endangered'
About as few as 85,000 individuals remain in the world.
In a detailed study on dugongs of the coast of Queensland, the population of Dugongs are marked as rapidly declinging.
In the early 1960s, there existed about 72,000 dugongs around Queensland.
In the mid-1990s, dugong population teetered on the brink of 4,220.
In 1986, in the area between Hinchinbrook Island (north of Townsville) and the southern boundary of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (north of Bundaberg) 3500 dugongs exist.
In 1994. 1700 individuals remain.
Even more drastically...
In 1988, dugongs in the Hervey Bay-Great Sandy Strait region numbered only 2200
that number fell to 800 in 1994.
Dugong decline stems from several major causes :
gill netting 87-99%, subsistence hunting 85-98%, human settlement 82-85%, agricultural pollution 80-89%.
gill netting 87-99%, subsistence hunting 85-98%, human settlement 82-85%, agricultural pollution 80-89%.