Once mistaken for mermaids , dugongs – also known as ocean cows – are gentle nautical titan . However , while some populations are surviving worldwide , a critically endangered sub - universe of dugongs found along the seacoast of Mozambique is unluckily not one of those . Luckily , scientist and the local residential area have come up with a plan to help save the dwindling universe .
dugong were once common along Africa ’s east coast but now the numbers of these aristocratic maritime herbivores have declined importantly with just afew hundred left . The reasons for this decline are largely attributed to the sportfishing industry , with gill net income and seine nets causing the Dugong dugon to become tangled and drown .
Further problemsarise with the decline in seagrass habitat – a Dugong dugon master solid food beginning – as well as the commercialization of coastal sphere causing increase boating and contamination .
However , the Dugong dugon are safeguarded in one field , the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park , a protect surface area that is destitute from the habit of any of the deadly nets . Conservationists have set up a new plan to apply satellite tagging on the remaining members of the dugong population to provide critical info on their home ground use , include where they travel to and when they leave the protected area .
Recent aerial sketch have put their number at around 250 individuals include some cow and calfskin pairs , but the promise is this go after information will contribute to conservation practices .
“ Understanding Dugong dugon apparent movement and habitat economic consumption is lively for the long - term tribute of the coinage and their marine environment . But there is still much work to be done,“Evan Trotzuk , African Parks ’ Research and Monitoring Coordinator at Bazaruto , told IFLScience .
" The East African universe of dugongs status is relatively unknown in about 50 pct of its range areas . Since dugong movements are predominantly individualist , it ’s indispensable that at least 10 percent of a dugong universe count is trail to realise authentic data and to obtain the big picture of habitat use to identify bowel movement corridor . ”
There are a number of challenges , however , when it comes to tag the dugong . Unlike whales , which can be suction trail from a distance or those that can be sedated safely , Dugong dugon have to be awake for the process .
“ Attaching the trailing devices required heap of provision and careful prep . Weather , tide , and bump all played their part . The Bazaruto team was fortunate to con from the expert squad at James Cook University and this transfer of skills will be vitally important for the future – six of the park ’s locally employ staff were prepare to carry out the gaining control , tagging , and sample distribution of dugongs . This tagging exercise is a first for Africa and the Bazaruto team now has the skills needed to go along these exploit , ” explain Trotzuk .
The African Parks squad were part of an importantproject in 2022that saw the dugong population in this area listed ascritically endanger . Dugongs come about in other region , including north Australia , which is why their overall classification remains at Vulnerable . The ocean cows also play a lively part in maintaining the wellness of the ecosystem , and by doing this they keep going support in the neighborhood .
“ Dugong dugon support the health of seagrass meadows by grazing preferentially on certain coinage . Seagrass meadows are critically authoritative in East Africa for fisheries , which offer economical livelihoods and food security measures for coastal residential area , and carbon segregation , ” continue Trotzuk .
fortuitously , it seems the lunar time period may be turning in favor of the dugongs . The squad have been working with local communities to reduce the threat to the species and engage the locals with the dugong research projection .
“ The Bazaruto Archipelago National Park management squad has been run with local sportfishing communities to reduce the function of gill nets and meliorate the direction of seine netting , " Trotzuk read .
" Despite some misconceptions amongst local anglers about marine conservation exertion and regulations , these attempt are set about to ante up off . Having seen the value of protecting aquatic life for sizeable ecosystems , fish stocks , and tourism , local anglers are beginning to avoid using gill net profit . In recent meetings to raise awareness ahead of the dugong tagging initiative , communities were enthusiastic and in favour of the project . ”
The team havesuccessfully taggedseven male and four females , with data already coming back to the squad that shows where the individuals are heading . The team trust they can include an area north of the current Marine Protected Area ( MPA ) in the future as this is known to be an area the dugongs have been go out in .
“ The area in the north is of especial focus for further trade protection measurement as it has previously been noted as a Dugong dugon hotspot . The data point from the tags will go a long manner in square up the extent of the area that take to be admit in the MPA . ”
