BRISBANE, Australia (12 July 2001) -- Overhunting by Aborigines, pollution and accidental drowning in shark nets has almost wiped out the dugong, or seacow, from Australia's far northeast coast, according to a new study. A report by the James Cook University found dugong numbers off Australia's tropical Queensland coast have declined 97 percent in the last 38 years. The report said the large sea-grazing mammal was being caught in shark nets strung along 48 beaches, over hunted by Aborigines and suffered from pollution of its watery environment. ''The probable causes...almost certainly include habitat loss and overkill from traditional hunting and incidental drowning in commercial gill nets, as well as the shark nets,'' said Professor Helene Marsh. ''Aboriginal elders consider that dugong numbers in the southern Great Barrier Reef region have been in decline for at least 20 years,'' Marsh said. | | Shark nets, overhunting and pollution have nearly wiped out Australia's dugongs. The dugong can grow to about 880 pounds and is a distant relative of the elephant. It is the only herbivorous mammal that lives in marine environments and survives on sea grasses which grow in shallow, non-polluted waters. The report concludes it will take about 80 years for dugong numbers to recover to 1960 levels with more comprehensive management strategies needed to prevent the species extinction. |
