Dugongs

There’s so much to see and do on a Whitsunday reef tour, including discovering the incredible aquatic wildlife of the Great Barrier Reef. Along with the thousands of fish species, as well as whales, dolphins and turtles, you might also meet the beautiful Dugongs of the Whitsunday Islands.

Dugongs are herbivores and are sometimes called sea cows because they depend on sea-grass and eat up to 7% of their body weight in sea-grass every day. They live in shallow waters along coastal areas, which is why they can often be found on in Australia between Shark Bay and Moreton Bay, including the Great Barrier Reef sights you visit on a Whitsunday reef tour. Fully grown adults can grow up to 3 meters and 400 kilograms in size.

Dugongs can live for 70 years. They are slow breeders, with female Dugongs reaching sexual maturity around 7 or 8 years of age, older than many other mammals and only breeding every three to six years. Because they are slow moving, Dugongs are especially vulnerable to predators and human exploitation, and Dugong numbers have decreased in recent years. Protection of the Great Barrier Reef is vital for the conservation of Dugongs. When discovering these amazing creatures on your Whitsunday reef tour, it’s important to be responsible visitors and take care of this wonderful wildlife habitat.

Dugongs are often considered to be the inspiration for mermaids, but in reality they are no less miraculous. To meet a Dugong for yourself, book a Whitsunday reef tour and explore the Great Barrier Reef. Wings offers 2 day 2 night sailing tours, providing the opportunity to sail the Whitsundays and go snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef. Enjoy the comfort of a purpose-built catamaran with air-conditioning and a social environment. The crew of Wings will take you to the best sights in the Whitsunday islands, where you can get up close to the aquatic wildlife of the Great Barrier Reef.