Excellent 4 chapter Endangered Animals : The Dugong by tempeste

The bristles 'n upper lip recall those of a walrus, its tail and side fins those of a dolphin. Despite its bulk, the dugong moves as gracefully as a mermaid. Nicknamed sea cow, it chows down large amounts of seagrass which grows in shallow, warm waters. The thick sea meadows,  provide food and shelter to many smaller sea dwellers, and the dugong pooping, spreads grass seeds  promoting new growth  like a pro gardener. At home in Emirates and Qatar waters,  the dugong population is struggling due to the pollution caused by coastal development. Seagrass beds coated with toxic sediments is a detriment to all marine life. Collisions with boats and fishing nets are two other deadly threats; once entangled these docile mammals often drown. We need to find valid solutions to protect the dugong and guarantee the birth of future generations.   Author Notes 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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