Queensland’s dugong population in decline after summer floods. Photo: Supplied
Miranda Forster August 8, 201. The Sydney Morning Herald
More dugongs have died this year than in all of 2010 because of Queensland’s summer of disasters.
Ninety-six of the sea mammals washed up dead on the state’s coastline in the first seven months of this year, compared with 79 for the whole of last year.
Environment Minister Vicky Darling says scientists believe most of the dugongs died of starvation after Queensland’s floods devastated their main food source, seagrass.