Dugong officially declared extinct in China

Dugong officially declared extinct in China

In what has been called a "wake-up call" for global efforts to protect the gentle marine creature, the dugong has been declared extinct in China. According to research by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Zoological Society of London, habitat destruction brought on by the impact of fishing, ship strikes, and habitat loss fuelled by human activity has prompted a decline in numbers, which had been dwindling since the 1970s. The mammal, found in more than 30 countries, including the UAE, is commonly referred to as the "sea cow" due to its habit of grazing on ocean seagrass. According to reports, there have been no reports of dugong sightings in China since 2008. It is typically found in coastal waters and is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. "Their absence will not only have a knock-on effect on ecosystem function, but also serves as a wake-up call - a sobering reminder that extinctions can occur before effective conservation actions are developed," said Professor Samuel Turvey of ZSL's Institute of Zoology, one of the authors of the report, published in the Royal Society Open Science journal. Seagrass habitat loss and degradation, frequently brought on by coastal development or water pollution, pose a threat to Dugongs. The dugong will not correctly reproduce if there is insufficient seagrass for them to eat. BKM/ Expat Media

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