| Dugongs are found throughout the Indo-Pacific region in tropical and subtropical waters. Over the past century, populations of the dugong have shown marked declines throughout their range. These population declines have been attributed to seagrass habitat loss, incidental mortality in nets, traditional hunting and more recently to boat strike in urbanised waters. We are not yet sure what effects declining water quality due to coastal development might have on dugong health and reproduction. It is possible that dugongs are affected by pollutants in water, sediments and seagrass. The dugong is currently listed as vulnerable to extinction by the World Conservation Union (IUCN 2001).
Australia is one of the last strongholds for dugongs in the world with a conservative estimate of >100,000 dugongs in the waters of northern Australia and Torres Strait. Within their Australian range there appear to be several geographically- and genetically-distinct populations from Moreton Bay on the east coast through the northern waters to Shark Bay on the west coast.
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