“Mermaid” in Hurghada
Hurghada pleases travelers with an ancient mammal swimming in the Red Sea, which has almost disappeared from the Earth – the dugong. For quite a long time (about a month) this rare animal has been swimming in the water near the beaches of the famous resort town. This can not but please the guests of Hurghada, who can observe the life of a unique animal in its natural environment. For harming the mammal, the intruder faces a heavy fine or imprisonment. Since visitors and locals are eager to interact with this herbivorous animal they go out to sea hiring boats, taking pictures of the mammal and trying to touch it, as the dugong is a very calm friendly animal. Floating in the sea, the dugong brings not only pleasure to holidaymakers, but also considerable income to the city treasury.
Ahmed Shauk, an expert in marine biology, says that the only marine mammal that feeds on seaweed is the dugong. The animal is quite large, but very slow and unhurried. In the Red Sea there are almost the last specimens of dugongs, because reproduction of this species is very slow and catching by man was very intensive. The female carries the calf for over a year. The dugong belongs to the order of sirens and is listed in the International Red Book.
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