The Dugong is a species of sea cow found throughout the warm latitudes of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. it is the only member of the Dugongidae family, and its closest living realatives are the manatees. 
Dugongs are threatened by sea grass habitat loss or degradation because of coastal development or industrial activities that cause water polution. This makes the conservation of their shallow water marine habitat very important. They also often become victims of bycatch, the accidental entanglement in fishing nets.