What are dugongs predators?

Defence. Dugongs are slow-moving and have little protection against predators. Being large animals, however, only large sharks, saltwater crocodiles and killer whales are a danger to them. Young dugongs hide behind their mothers when in danger.

Are dugongs prey or predators?

Combined with poor eyesight, their languid lifestyle makes dugongs relatively easy prey for tiger sharks, who are famously unfussy eaters. Across their range, these fearsome predators have been found with all sorts of tasty prey in their stomachs, from fish and crustaceans to turtles and sea snakes.

What kills a dugong?

What’s killing dugongs in Abu Dhabi? The answer is unequivocal: fishing nets. According to the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD), drowning after becoming entangled in abandoned, lost or illegal fishing nets is the number one cause of dugong deaths in the city’s coastal waters.

What are dugongs biggest threat?

Threats. Dugongs are threatened by sea grass habitat loss or degradation because of coastal development or industrial activities that cause water pollution. If there is not enough sea grass to eat then the dugong does not breed normally. This makes the conservation of their shallow water marine habitat very important.

Are dugongs carnivores?

OmnivorousDugong / Trophic level

How many dugongs left 2021?

The dugong has become extinct around China and Taiwan, and, according to the IUCN, anecdotal evidence suggests that the dugong has declined in many other parts of its range. Along the coasts of East Africa and India, the dugong is likely “highly endangered,” with only about 200 individuals remaining, says Sivakumar.

Do great white sharks eat dugong?

The sharks have also been recorded far inland in fresh water rivers and have been linked to many historic attacks on humans. They have a reputation as fierce hunters and will attack and eat almost anything, including dugongs, dolphins and other sharks.

What eats dugong in the coral reef?

They have few predators, besides sharks, crocodiles and man. Dugongs were hunted to the edge of extinction in the early part of last century by Europeans for food and oil. These days, dugongs are under pressure from other activities, such as loss of habitat, boat traffic and being caught in fishing nets.

Do saltwater crocodiles eat dugongs?

Adult dugongs do not have any natural predators, but juveniles may be eaten by saltwater crocodiles, killer whales, and large, coastal sharks.