Dugong (Dugong dugon) - Bulmakau long solwara

Abstract

Microsoft Word - Dugong-Awareness-Pamphlette.doc Dugong (Dugong dugon) - Bulmakau long solwara Colour: Medium grey, with lighter coloration on belly. Presence of bristles on snout and a few small hairs all over body. Body length: Ranges from 1 m when new-born to 3.3 m as an adult. Distribution range: (Dark shading represents known remaining populations) Life History: Dugongs can live to up to 70 years of age. They become sexually mature between the age of 10 to 17 years. Female dugongs give birth to 1 calf (child) every 2 to 7 years. For dugongs, pregnancy lasts for about 11 to 13 months before birth. The mother will breast feed its calf (like a baby) until it is 18 months old and will look after it until it reaches sexual maturity and it can then go off and start its own family.. Dugongs have a high biodiversity value and are vulnerable to extinction. Survey’s suggests that dugong numbers have decreased throughout most of their range. PNG is one of the last places to still h