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THE DUGONGS ARE BACK!!! |
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The Dugongs are back!_________________________________________________________________________________ In the Seychelles archipelago, the world's second largest coral atoll is found, it is part of the outer islands of the Seychelles. Aldabra is uninhabited and still in its natural form (gratefully). The Aldabra Atoll consists of four islands around a large shallow lagoon encircled by fringing coral reef. The lagoon itself is filled with black tip sharks, sea turtles, manta rays and so many more amazing creatures of the ocean. Aldabra Atoll also, has the largest population of giant tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) in the world, this is about 100,000 of them. Aldabra was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1982, by UNESCO and as a site under Indian Ocean South East Asia Turtle Network.
Dugongs (Dugong Dugon) are found in tropical and subtropical coastal areas. "Dugongs are believed to be declining or extinct across a third of their range" (Source: www.dugongs.org) They have been classified as 'vulnerable' since 1892 till now, by the IUCN, though they are native to many countries including the Seychelles itself.
Long time ago, around 200 years, when the Seychelles was first discovered by Europeans, Dugongs, also known as sea cows we're commonly spotted in the Seychelles waters. Ile Aux Vaches (Cow Island in English), known as Bird Island today, got its name because of the great number of Dugongs which gathered there to breed.
Dugongs where hunted to extinction in the Seychelles by seafarers eager to exploit them for their meat and oil. Since then, dugongs we're not seen again until 2001. Aldabra was known as a safe refuge for dugongs and has extensive seagrass beds, located both inside and outside of the lagoon, where they can feed and reproduce.
Luckily, recently, a group of conservationists working on Aldabra, saw a dugong swimming peacefully though the atoll's waters. This group of conservationists are working with Seychelles Island Foundation (SIF) which job is to manage and protect the World Heritage Sites of the Seychelles for the moment we only have two World Heritage Sites, Vallee de Mai and Aldabra.
SIF role in the project is to undertake surveys to assess the status of Aldabra's dugong's population, which may I add, is not known by the IUCN.
We are all happy to know that these fantastic creatures are slowly returning back to the Seychelles, the number of sightings is definitely increasing! |
   
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16 Comments
Same here Soram.. same here! :D would be a dream come true
Posted 18-03-2015 12:51
Wow, great to have those creatures back home. I wish to see them in person!!! :)
Posted 09-03-2015 21:38
Bindu, thank you so much for nice comment. Yes! hooray to the conservationists!
I know the pictures are amazing. You all should come to visit! :D
Posted 06-03-2015 15:01
Wow ! Seychelles is so magnificent. I wish I can visit someday :)
Thank you for sharing this happy news Dear Shafira. Appreciation to the conservationists working with SIF who spotted it and are working to access Aldabra's Dugongs Status.
The pictures are eye catching. Wonderful water creatures :)
Posted 06-03-2015 14:43
That is so nice of you. Thank you
Posted 06-03-2015 00:22
wow good report
Posted 05-03-2015 22:44
Really? SUPER great news! :) Congratulations to the Korean People aswell! :)
Posted 05-03-2015 15:51
So many congratulations for all people in Seychelles! I am so happy to see the marine ecosystem is slowly recovering from the resent exploitation. Dugongs are endangered to extinct all over the globe. In Korea more and more migtory birds are coming back, it's another good news :)
Posted 05-03-2015 14:31
Please do come and visit! :)
Posted 05-03-2015 13:03
THANK YOU!!!!! Yes definitely!!
Posted 05-03-2015 12:57
Great job by SIF.
And thanks for sharing the beautiful images.
Conservation efforts and regular monitoring shall definitely increase their number.
Thanks for sharing. :)
Posted 05-03-2015 10:19
Good job by Conservationists and SIF.
Thanks for sharing the beautiful pics -so soothing to eyes.
Seychelles is on my list of "Must visit " places.
Posted 05-03-2015 03:50
Oh I'm Glad you like the pictures I got on Google. You can definitely search some more if interested. Like the Aldabra Atoll itself, the Giant Tortoise, Manta Ray and the Dugongs! :)
Posted 05-03-2015 00:18
@Samuel Kpartor
Thank you so much! :) Keep up the good work too.
@Aksana Dallakoti
Yes definitely good news, don't worry I will keep you posted about the marine species of the Seychelles. And plus, though you live in a landlocked country and I live on an island I have never swam with Dolphins, never saw a whale shark / dugongs / whale and many more. There is so much I want to see.. :)
Posted 05-03-2015 00:16
Ahah! Dugongs aka Sea cows magnificent Shafira! that's good news! Thanks for sharing about sea species as Nepal is landlocked country I love to hear about sea species Hopefully this time people of Seychelles are more concerned about it conservation. I'm in love with all photos :) :)
Posted 04-03-2015 22:58
Wow............good work Ambassador..........Keep it up
Posted 04-03-2015 21:15