World Dugong Day Date in the current year: May 28, 2025

The dugong is a marine mammal in the order Sirenia (sea cows), whose closest extant relatives are the three species of manatees. It is the only living member of the family Dugongidae, which once included at least 15-20 species based on fossil discoveries. Interestingly, the dugong and manatee are more closely related to elephants than to other marine mammals. The dugong’s range spans the warm coastal waters of about 40 countries and territories throughout the Indo-West Pacific.

The dugong is a large animal; adults typically measure about 2.4 to 4 meters in length and can weigh up to 400 kilograms, with females generally larger than males. Its streamlined, fusiform body is adapted for aquatic life. The dugong has thick, smooth, grayish-brown skin and a rounded, whale-like fluked tail, which it uses for propulsion. Its forelimbs are paddle-like flippers that aid in maneuverability. The dugong’s head is relatively small, with no dorsal fin, and it has a broad, downward sloping snout with a large, bristly upper lip adapted for grazing on seagrass.

Dugongs and manatees are commonly referred to as sea cows because they are almost exclusively herbivorous, feeding on seagrass, although they may occasionally eat invertebrates such as shellfish, jellyfish, sea squirts, and bristle worms.

Dugongs have been hunted by humans for their meat, oil, skin and bones since prehistoric times. In some parts of Southeast Asia, dugong “tears” and meat are believed to have aphrodisiac properties, which has resulted in dugongs being hunted to near extinction in these regions. On the other hand, in some other regions and cultures, dugong hunting is considered taboo.

Although many countries strictly regulate dugong hunting, the dugong population is declining as a result of human activities. Human-related threats to the dugong include not only hunting, but also habitat degradation and entanglement in fishing nets. Environmental pollution and human activities such as land reclamation threaten the dugong both directly and indirectly (by affecting seagrass beds and causing food shortages).

The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the dugong as vulnerable, meaning that it is threatened with extinction unless threats to its reproduction and survival are eliminated. The dugong is particularly vulnerable to extinction because of its slow reproduction rate and long lifespan, which means that females give birth only a few times in their lives.

The origins of World Dugong Day are somewhat obscure, but it is celebrated by many conservation and animal welfare organizations. It is marked by seminars and webinars, conferences, public lectures and other events and activities aimed at raising awareness of the dugong’s vulnerable status and consolidating conservation efforts.