World Dugong Day is
celebrated on May 28th every year. This creature of over 800 pounds is a cousin
of the manatee. Also called a sea cow, the dugong is a marine mammal that
grazes on seagrasses in shallow coastal waters of the Indian and Western
Pacific oceans. The dugong has been hunted for thousands of years for its meat
and oil and still is in a few countries in northern Australia and the Pacific
islands. Despite being protected in many parts of the world, its long lifespan
of 70 years and slow reproduction rate led to a decline in its population. The
IUCN list considers it vulnerable to extinction.
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