DUGONG (SEACOW)
Dugongs are amazing and are
terrific. The dugong used to be hunted and the population decreased. Now there
is a rule not to catch them. But the dugong is still facing great danger of
getting caught in fishing nets and crashing into boats. They live in hot places
like Australia.
The dugongs can weigh up to
500kg and be 3m in length. They swim through the water. Their favourite food is
yummy seagrass. Their habitat is in Northern Australia where they swim in the
shallow waters. There they are safe from large waves and storms. This animal
adapts to it’s habitat by having a thick layer of fat giving them a distinctly
large posture. The Dugongs enemies are tiger shark, saltwater crocodiles, large
whales and other large sharks. Female dugongs have birth underwater to a single
calf every three to seven years. Birth takes place in shallow water for its
first breath. Baby dugongs weigh 20-30kg. The calf stays with its mother
drinking milk from her teats and following close by until 18-24 months of age.
Dugongs reach adult size between 9-17 years of age, and have a similar lifespan
to humans, if left alone.
Dugongs are amazing animals
we don’t want to hurt them. Please don’t hunt Dugongs down because they are
endangered and we want to save them.
LET’S SAVE THE DUGONGS!!!
BY TAMSIN!!!!