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Dugong Research Paper

Decent Essays

HUNTING OF DUGONGS BY ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES
By Jaclyn Selden

Abstract
The dugong (Dugong dugon) is an aquatic mammal found in the Indo-West Pacific region. They help shape the biological composition and structure of their ecosystem through their grazing of seagrass beds, and are an integral part of Aboriginal subsistence and culture. Population estimates are difficult, but it is believed that their numbers are declining. They face several threats, including habitat loss, boat strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, and hunting. Dugongs have been harvested for consumption, commercial trade (skin, oil, bone) and religious ceremonies for thousands of years (Marsh 2002 and Lawler et al 2002). Although they are protected throughout their range, …show more content…

This paper summarizes the current research on the magnitude and effects of this aboriginal hunting of dugongs. MicNiven and Bedingfield compared historical abundances and hunting rates in the Torres Strait to today’s. By excavating an ancient ceremonial bone mound and extrapolating its measurements, they determined that there was an annual catch rate of 200 dugongs and a population size of over 70,000. Today, the annual catch rate is 500 and population size is 13-30,000. Thus, abundances were significantly higher, and hunting rates were significantly lower than they are today. The team hypothesizes that other factors are causing a decline in dugong numbers—but still concludes that hunting rates must be lowered if these animals are to avoid extinction (McNiven and Bedingfield 2008). Another study conducted in the Torres Straight used population models to assess if the current hunting rate of dugongs is sustainable. They concluded that dugongs are doomed to extinction under the current hunting rate, with a mean time to extinction of 43-123 years. They recommend an annual take of only 100 animals, region-wide management plans, and the involvement of …show more content…

It is in the Order Sirenia, along with the three species of manatees, and has the same grey fusiform body with paddle-like limbs. However, dugongs have sharply downturned snouts and a fluked tail. They are 8-10 feet long, weigh about ~500-1000 lbs, and can live over 70 years (Lawler et al). They graze on underwater seagrass beds, usually along coastal habitats and in shallow, protected bodies of water (Marsh 2002). They are the only Siren that is strictly marine. They can take almost two decades to reach sexual maturity, can have a calving interval of up to 5 years, and have high levels of maternal care (Lawler et al 2002). These K-selected traits make them vulnerable to extinction, and are listed as such by the IUCN.
Population estimates are difficult, but it is believed that their numbers are declining. They face several threats, including habitat loss, boat strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, and hunting. The severity of each of these threats varies for the different countries throughout the dugong’s range, as does legislation and management (Marsh 2002). This makes protection difficult, as there is a lack of cohesion; a comprehensive, region-wide management plan would be beneficial, and perhaps necessary to this species’

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