Fast facts on the dugong - the oceans gentlest giant!
Huge and grey, the dugong might look like a bully, but they're actually one of the gentlest creatures in the sea!
UNLIKELY BROTHER
Dugongs are closely related to elephants! However apart from being big, grey and funny lookin', they don't have much else in common.
TOTALLY VEG
Dugongs are the only vegetarian mammal in the sea! They are nicknamed the 'sea cow' because they spend most of their day munching on seagrass.
HEAVY LOAD
A full-grown dugong can be up to 3m in length and weigh over 400kg - that's about the same five average-sized men!
GENTLE GIANTS
Even though they're massive, they are super slow-moving and natural prey to a stack of other marine animals, like sharks, crocodiles and killer whales. Travelling in herds helps them stay safe.
AUSSIES AT HEART
With about 80,000 dugongs hanging out around Queenland, NSW and WA, dugongs love aussie waters. This is because they are warm and they can't stand the cold!
Check out this cool National Geographic clip of Dugongs in WA's Shark Bay!
