In the waters of the Red Sea near the popular resort city of Hurghada in Egypt, the camera of one of the divers captured the appearance of a creature that almost disappeared due to human fault – the dugong, which is also popularly called the “mistress of the seas” or “mermaid”. This was reported by the Egyptian publication El Watan.
Excited tourists who went on a sea walk to meet the “mermaid” last Tuesday were very lucky. Thus, the organizer of sea trips in Hurghada, Ahmed Biju, told the portal that one of the boat’s outings into the open sea on April 18 gave tourists unforgettable emotions after seeing a majestic and innocent animal. Vacationers observed a species of marine mammal that is disappearing.
According to Ahmed Gallab, a scientist and director of the northern reserves of the Red Sea, sea “mermaids” are rare marine mammals that still remain an important attraction on the beaches of Hurghada: tourists pay for sea tours to see the animals in their natural environment, and then seek to pet them. ‘yeah
The interlocutor also emphasized the economic importance of the presence of these sea creatures: they are considered a source of national wealth that must be preserved in the tourism sector. According to recent studies, the mere presence of dugongs in the waters of the Red Sea gives Egypt an annual income of $1.2 million per year.
Reference: Dugon is a herbivorous mammal that reaches four meters in length and weighs up to 600 kg. These animals are native inhabitants of the Red Sea and are on the brink of extinction due to human fault. Long ago, dugongs were hunted for meat, the taste and texture of which reminded them of tender veal. In Egypt, the dugong has been known for a long time. Drawings depicting the hunting of these animals have been preserved since the time of the pharaohs. And in the Middle Ages, dugongs were most often depicted as mermaids.
Dugongs are leisurely creatures from the siren class, they move slowly, feeding on vegetation from the bottom. Currently, they are listed in the International Red Book, so their fishing is strictly prohibited.