Retail reptiles shed negative image in year of the snake

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dugong :: Article Creator

First Wild Dugong Sighted In 88 Years

  • By Wang Chun-chi and Lery Hiciano / Staff reporter, with staff writer

    • A wild live dugong was found in Taiwan for the first time in 88 years, after it was accidentally caught by a fisher's net on Tuesday in Yilan County's Fenniaolin (粉鳥林).

    This is the first sighting of the species in Taiwan since 1937, having already been considered "extinct" in the country and considered as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

    A fisher surnamed Chen (陳) went to Fenniaolin to collect the fish in his netting, but instead caught a 3m long, 500kg dugong.

    Photo courtesy of a fisher

    The fisher released the animal back into the wild, not realizing it was an endangered species at the time, although he took images and videos of the animal.

    The photos have made waves within the public as well as the marine biology community, both in Taiwan and Japan.

    "Not just a legend! The beautiful myth reappears in Taiwan," said Jeng Ming-hsiou (鄭明修), head of Academia Sinica's biodiversity research center, referencing how dugongs are sometimes considered the origin of mermaid myths.

    The most recent record of a dugong in Taiwan were remains found in 1986, later sent to a museum for preservation, Jeng said.

    He said he had personally traveled to Japan to study the animals, but only briefly caught a glimpse of them, adding that Japanese researchers tracking dugongs would be very interested in this finding.

    In modern Taiwanese history, there has been no record of live dugongs caught in the wild, Taiwan Cetacean Society secretary-general Tseng Cheng-tsung (曾鉦琮) said.

    Finding one in Yilan is unexpected, Tseng said, adding that it may have originated in Okinawa and followed ocean currents and food to Taiwan.

    Dugongs are related to manatees, although they differ in their tail structure, Tseng added.

    They feed on seagrass and so mainly inhabit shallow waters in Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia and Okinawa, meaning there is limited information on them in Taiwan, he added.

    In the past, dugongs were hunted in large numbers for their skin, meat and bones, leading to a sharp decline in their population.

    They now face severe issues around marine habitat loss.


    Moecc Launches Probe Into Dugong Deaths

    (MENAFN- Gulf Times) The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC), which spotted two dead dugongs (sea cows) along the country's shores, has launched a thorough investigation into the cause of death.Preliminary assessments indicate that the animals may have been trapped in fishing nets, a statement said Friday.The ministry confirmed that a team from the Wildlife Development Department has initiated verification procedures and is collecting the necessary samples.The MoECC pointed out that the possible causes of marine animal fatalities, such as dugongs, include collisions with boats or fishing vessels.Currently, it is the dugong mating season, during which adult males engage in battles, sometimes leading to severe injuries that may result in death.Dugongs are herbivorous marine mammals that inhabit warm coastal waters and primarily feed on seagrass.Qatar is home to the second-largest dugong population in the world after Australia, as its waters host large numbers of these animals, particularly in the seagrass-rich areas of the Arabian Gulf.Dugongs in Qatar receive special protection under environmental laws and are subject to continuous monitoring to help preserve this endangered species.The MoECC has urged fishermen and sea-goers to adhere to environmental guidelines that help protect marine life. These include reducing boat speed in areas where marine species like dugongs, dolphins, and turtles are present, using sustainable fishing gear, and avoiding the disposal of nets or waste in the sea.The ministry also emphasised the importance of immediately reporting any marine animal found entangled in fishing nets, stranded on the shore, or floating in the water, by contacting the hotline at 16066.The ministry stressed the importance of joint efforts to protect marine ecosystems and maintain their balance, highlighting the crucial role of the community in mitigating threats to marine species. It also noted that significant movements of dugong herds have been observed during the winter months, particularly between January and March, especially along the country's coastal areas.The MoECC confirmed that it conducts regular monitoring operations and enforces regulations to ensure that fishermen and sea-goers comply with guidelines aimed at protecting endangered species.Earlier this month, the Ministry of Municipality announced a ban on fishing with certain type of nets in the western area of the country, extending from Ras Al Brouq to Al Ashairij.This decision aligns with Ministerial Decision No. 36 of 2025 and is part of efforts to protect dugong aggregation areas and maintain ecological balance in the Qatari waters.

    MENAFN28032025000067011011ID1109369975


    Fans Everywhere Are Slobbering At The Chance To Try Devin The Dugong's Algorithmically Generated Sandwich

    Opening Day is just around the corner, and if you follow the local news, there's a decent chance you've been treated to a sneak peek of your home team's bold innovations in the ballpark concession space. There's the Sluggerrr Dog in Kansas City—"chorizo topped with Manchego, tempura batter, Doritos Cool Ranch crust, and avocado aioli." There's Kyle's Cutlets in Philly—"topped with creamy burrata, crispy fried pepperoni, and arugula, drizzled with a sweet and spicy hot honey sauce on a Liscio's Bakery roll." There's the H-Town Hot Chicken Loaded Fries in Houston—"crispy fresh cut French fries, fried chicken bites tossed in H-Town Hot Sauce, ranch, hot honey aioli, and green onions." There's the Fried Almond Torte in Pittsburgh—"funnel cake batter dipped, fried and topped with raspberry sauce, icing, and burnt almonds." I could go on and on, but why would I, when Defector has something better than all of them?

    To really hit "a home run" on Defector's signature premium concession for the 2025 season, we turned to the one true genius on our staff: Chief AI/Metaverse Officer Devin The Mixed-Reality Dugong. Thanks to Devin's work with our cutting-edge AI technology, our proprietary algorithm was able to generate the ideal sandwich for everyone to enjoy while watching a baseball game.

    Check out the video to see me introduce Devin The Dugong's Algorithmically Generated Sandwich, or follow along step by step below.

    Click here to watch with subtitles.

    Baseball, of course, is America's pastime, and for that reason, our algorithmically generated sandwich started off with the most American of foods: baked macaroni and cheese.

    But baseball is also an international sport, with appeal all over the world. The algorithm honors that diversity with its first addition to the sandwich: Swedish fish.

    It's not only Swedes that play baseball, however. This is a sport with a rich Latin heritage, so it's appropriate that the algorithm included salsa on its sandwich.

    The algorithm knows that any good sandwich packs plenty of protein in the middle, and we've got you covered there. Batting clean-up on this sandwich is a star attraction: meatloaf.

    That's not all! On top of this already delicious sandwich, the algorithm added a second slice of meatloaf. A picture-perfect double play!

    Some of you traditionalists might be getting a little worried. This may not be the kind of sandwich that you're used to. But in a very savvy move, the algorithm topped all of this with a baseball classic: a hot dog bun.

    Now this sandwich just needed a little seasoning, and the algorithm revealed to us the most optimal seasoning: salt.

    Finally, the algorithm completed its masterpiece with the other half of the mac-and-cheese bun.

    But we're not quite done yet! We're going to let this sandwich sit in the hallway a little while, Defector-style.

    I had the privilege of being the first to try Devin The Dugong's Algorithmically Generated Sandwich, and I can proudly say that this is the kind of sandwich that only artificial intelligence could create.

    It's shaping up to be another winning season for Devin The Mixed-Reality Dugong and his revolutionary work in the metaverse/AI space!

    Video Footage: Samer Kalaf

    Photos: Sabrina Imbler

    Graphics: Dan McQuade

    Script & Video Editing: Lauren Theisen

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