RIYADH: Once mistaken for mermaids by weary sailors, the dugong — shy, slow-moving marine mammals — now face a very real threat of extinction.
Their closest relative, Steller’s sea cow, vanished in the 18th century after relentless hunting. Conservationists warn that unless strong protections are put in place, dugongs could meet the same fate.
But in Saudi Arabia, herds of this elusive species are finding refuge. Along the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf coastlines, dugongs graze peacefully in seagrass meadows — a vital habitat that the Kingdom is determined to safeguard.
“The presence, or absence, of dugong tells us a lot about the health of an ecosystem, its diversity and levels of pollution,” said Mirey Atallah, head of the UN Environment Programme’s Climate for Nature Branch, commenting on regional conservation efforts.
Dugongs, nicknamed “sea cows,” feed exclusively on seagrass in shallow waters. They have fusiform bodies, dolphin-like flippers, and broad tails, but their most striking trait is their reproductive pace.
