Scientists Believe Dugongs Are “Functionally Extinct” in China
Once upon a time, dugongs swam without disturbance throughout the seas of southern China. However, a report published this week in the journal Royal Society Open Science claims that hunting, habitat loss, collisions with ships, and other human interventions have rendered these once-abundant marine animals “functionally extinct” in China. Dugongs (Dugong dugon) are huge mammals that spend most of their time feeding on underwater seagrass, where they can weigh up