Dugongs, A Marine Animal, Are Endangered, According To A Watchlist.

The updated International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, on Friday, revealed that marine mammal Dugongs are facing extinction in East Africa and New Caledonia.

Marine mammal Dugongs are facing extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List that was released on Friday. The large herbivorous marine mammals, usually known as sea cow, are now threatened with extinction.

A female Dugong swims in her tank at the Sydney Aquarium

The IUCN watchlist revealed that the population of Dugongs in East Africa and New Caledonia has entered the Red List as "critically endangered" and "endangered” respectively.

The mammal is “vulnerable” globally. The primary threats to this species are poaching in New Caledonia and unintentional capture in fishing gear in East Africa. Also, they suffer boat injuries in both locations.

Dugongs eat seagrass in shallow coastal waters. Several factors like production, fossil fuel exploration, pollution and unauthorized development are degrading their seagrass food source in East Africa, while seagrass is being damaged by agricultural run-off and pollution from nickel mining in New Caledonia.

According to the IUCN Director General, Bruno Oberle, "Today's IUCN Red List update reveals a perfect storm of unsustainable human activity decimating marine life around the globe." Read More On..