Australia is home to the world's largest dugong population with more than 100,000 thought to live in the Torres Strait.

Dugongs diet consists almost entirely of seagrass.

Dugongs can live for around 70 years, but they are slow to mature, with females reaching breeding age at around 10 years.

Females only give birth to a single calf every 3-7 years. The calf will stay with its mother for two years.
If there are stresses in their environment (such as increased cyclones and floods from climate change) then dugongs will produce fewer young.

Dugongs have the ability to hold their breath for up to 11 minutes and dive up to 33 metres.

Dugongs grow up to 3 metres in length and weigh over 500 kilograms.

Dugongs restore and spread seagrass habitats, making them essential ecosystem engineers. Seeds digested by dugongs are spread further and germinate much faster when transported by the dugong and its poop!

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