The dugong (Dugong dugon) is found in shallow waters from Sumatra to the island of Vanuatu in the Pacific. This wide range, coinciding with seagrass distribution, is its best bet for survival at a time when all sirenians, or sea cows, are threatened with extinction. While the river-based manatee is confined to the populous Caribbean, the dugong can escape the worst ravages of mankind in more desol
ate areas of ocean. Despite this, numbers are thought to have dropped, mainly due to the destruction of seagrass by dredging, trawling, mining and land reclamation. Sewage, fertilizers and pesticide run-off from farms and cities also kill the grass on which this gentle giant relies. Many dugongs die from becoming entangled in fishing nets and many others are killed to provide meat, oil, medicine, aphrodisiacs, lucky charms and leather. Its stronghold is off Northern Australia where its numbers are estimated to be 85,000.
