Big Ideas Dugongs — up close and personal
Aug 11, 2025
Join biologist Janet Lanyon, a dugong conservation expert, and marine education officer Brooke Witherby, who shares her heartwarming experiences with a rescued dugong named Pig. They dive into the fascinating biology of dugongs, their surprising link to elephants, and their vital role in marine ecosystems. Janet discusses conservation challenges, while Brooke highlights Pig's care and personality. Discover the importance of community involvement in saving these endangered creatures and the innovative research shaping dugong conservation efforts.
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More Elephant Than Dolphin
- Dugongs are more closely related to elephants than to dolphins.
- That ancestry helps explain tusks, heavy bodies, and specialised feeding traits.
Dugongs Rely Entirely On Seagrass
- Dugongs are obligate herbivores that specialise on seagrass beds.
- They depend entirely on coastal seagrass for feeding and survival.
Slow Breeders, Long Lifespans
- Dugongs live long but reproduce very slowly, with one calf every five to seven years.
- This slow life history makes populations slow to recover from losses.