Dugongs

Order: Sirenia
Genus: Dugong
Species: Dugong dugon

Dugongs, or sea cows as they are sometimes called, are marine animals which can grow to about three metres in length and weigh as much as 400 kilograms. They are the only marine mammals in Australia that live mainly on plants. The name sea cow refers to the fact that they graze on seagrass, which forms meadows in sheltered coastal waters. As dugongs feed, whole plants are uprooted and a telltale feeding trail is left behind. Dugongs play an important ecological role in coastal marine ecosystems, and the status of dugong populations in an area can be used as an indicator of general ecosystem health.

Distribution

Dugongs inhabit shallow, tropical waters throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Most of the world�s population of dugongs is now found in northern Australian waters between Shark Bay in Western Australia and Moreton Bay in Queensland. The Great Barrier Reef region supports globally significant populations of the dugong. The significance of the Great Barrier Reef Region for dugongs was one of the reasons that the area was given a World Heritage listing.

The known range of the dugong: (From: Marsh et al., 2002, 'Dugong Status Report and Actions Plans for Countries and Territories).

Much of the information about dugongs in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area comes from research conducted over the past 30 years by Professor Helene Marsh and her colleagues and students at James Cook University and from the local knowledge of Indigenous people and fishers. The contributions of these people in acquiring and providing this information are gratefully acknowledged.

Cultural connections

Dugongs are an essential element of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's living maritime culture along the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. The use of marine food resources such as the dugong greatly strengthens Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and demonstrates connection with traditional sea country. The activities associated with the hunting of dugong and preparing and sharing the meat has great significance and is an expression of the continuance of long cultural traditions. In remote coast areas, dugongs have a high social and economic value because they provide subsistence food to communities where a nourishing diet is essential but often expensive to attain.