The dugong, a gentle giant of the ocean, is now "functionally extinct" in China, a new study said Wednesday. There have been no records of dugongs in China's waters since 2008, researchers from the ...

The dugong, a gentle marine mammal that has frequented China’s southern waters for hundreds of years, has become functionally extinct in the country, a new study said on Wednesday. Research by the ...

The dugong — a marine mammal that purportedly inspired ancient mermaid tales — has been declared “functionally extinct” in China due to the degradation of its habitat caused by humans. On Wednesday, a ...

Time, tales and travels have created myths of half-human, half-fish creatures across the world. While such mermaid legends live on, their likely inspiration, the dugong, is slowly dying off. Now, ...

The dugong, the charismatic marine mammal that has inspired mermaid fairy tales, has been declared functionally extinct in China, joining a lengthy list of wildlife that have either disappeared or ...

A dugong is spotted in waters off Yongshu Reef near China's Nansha Islands. Photo: Screenshot from a video by Chinese Academy of Sciences' South China Sea Institute of Oceanology A dugong, one of the ...

Pour one out for the dugong today—the bulbous yet endearing undersea mammal has hit a worrying new benchmark of species decline. Scientists have declared the animal “functionally extinct” in part of ...

Molina recommends two spots where it’s very likely for snorkelers and divers to come face to face with dugongs. In the crystalline waters of Calauit Island, Philippines, locals lead ...

This column is part of a series where Verge staffers post highly subjective reviews of animals. Previously, we’ve written about animals without telling you whether they suck or rule. We are now ...

A sick baby dugong beloved in Thailand has died with bits of plastic in her stomach, officials reported Saturday. “Mariam” was adopted by the Thai public and became an internet sensation after being ...