World Dugong Day

World Dugong Day is celebrated on May 28th every year. This creature of over 800 pounds is a cousin of the manatee. Also called a sea cow, the dugong is a marine mammal that grazes on seagrasses in shallow coastal waters of the Indian and Western Pacific oceans. The dugong has been hunted for thousands of years for its meat and oil and still is in a few countries in northern Australia and the Pacific islands. Despite being protected in many parts of the world, its long lifespan of 70 years and slow reproduction rate led to a decline in its population. The IUCN list considers it vulnerable to extinction.