UAE | Environment
Dead dugong found in Jebel Dhanna
Yet another dugong, an endangered marine mammal, has been found dead by the Marine environment experts from the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) at the Jebel Dhanna area in Al Gharbia.
- By Rayeesa Absal, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:43 October 29, 2008
- Image Credit: WAM
- The dead dugong that was recovered during a clean-up operation by the EAD.
Abu Dhabi: Yet another dugong, an endangered marine mammal, has been found dead by the Marine environment experts from the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) at the Jebel Dhanna area in Al Gharbia.
The experts came across the unsightly scene while taking part in a beach clean up campaign organised by EAD.
Last December, they had come across two dead dugongs trapped in an abandoned drift gill net (Al Hayali), close to Abu Al Abyad Island. EAD experts had then confirmed that the dugong suffocated to death after being trapped in the gill net.
Over 100 volunteers who participated in clean-up ended taking home a much stronger message after seeing for real the results of irresponsible human actions.
Beach clean up
"The sight of the dead 200-kg female dugong on the shore stunned volunteers and acted as a reminder of the fragility of biodiversity in Abu Dhabi waters," read a statement issued by EAD on Wednesday. The clean-up was the sixth in a series of campaigns held this year along Abu Dhabi's coastline under the theme 'Marine Debris is a Silent Killer'.
Following an investigation by EAD experts, it was revealed that the endangered marine mammal most likely died due to suffocation from a discarded fishing net, among the many items carelessly thrown into the sea.
"I have read about the dugong but had never seen one until now. We were all saddened to see such a beautiful creature dead and it reminded us that our marine life is precious and needs to be protected. Sometimes we don't realise that a carelessly thrown fishing net or plastic bag into the sea can cause so much damage," said Shwikar Al Kaff, a teacher from Al Bashair School who was volunteering in the clean-up.
Volunteers removed 990kg of marine debris, notably including 586kg of plastic including nylon ropes and nets.
Quick facts: what is a dugong?
Dugong (Dugong dugon) is a greyish brown marine mammal measuring up to 2-4 metres in length and can weigh up to 400kg. Dugongs are shy, secretive animals with poor eyesight and sharp hearing.
It is an air-breathing marine herbivore and spends time grazing on sea grass. Also called the sea cow, dugongs live up to 70 years and can travel large distances. In Abu Dhabi, dugongs are found most near Al Marawah island. They inhabit shallow, tropical marine coastal water.
UAE has second largest dugong population in the world.
The Arabian Gulf and Red Sea host an estimated population of more than 7,000 dugongs, which constitutes the largest population outside Australia. About 40 per cent of this population resides in Abu Dhabi waters. They are protected by the Federal Law from exploitation in any form.
Why are they endangered?
Loss of habitat and destruction of breeding grounds as well as accidental mortality (by collisions with motor vessels) contribute to endangerment of dugongs.
They are also hunted for meat, oil, hides for leather, and for their bones and teeth, which are made into ivory artefacts and charcoal for sugar refining.
Some Asian cultures also prize dugong products for medicinal purposes. Water pollution and oil slicks affect their habitat. Natural disasters, human disturbance, predators, naturally slow reproductive rate etc are some of the other reasons.
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