Foreign Media: Dugong was Declared Functionally Extinct in China, Which "Sounded the Alarm" for the Protection Work
Published:31 Aug.2022 Source:Strait network
The original title of the article in the national newspaper of the United Arab Emirates on August 24: dugong has been declared functionally extinct in China, which is a "warning bell" for the protection work. In China, dugong has been declared (functionally) extinct. Researchers believe that this is a "warning bell" for the international action to protect this mild marine mammal.
According to the research conducted by the Zoological Society of London and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the number of dugongs has decreased due to factors such as fishing, ship collision and habitat loss caused by human activities, and has been decreasing since the 1970s. These creatures have been found in more than 30 countries, including the United Arab Emirates. Because they are accustomed to eating seaweed, they are also affectionately called "manatees". Dugongs are usually found in coastal waters, and now they are listed as vulnerable species by the World Conservation Union.