The “Mermaid” is buried in a safe area .. and documentation...

Was excluded Which Indicators of being hunted or inflicted Which hurt Deliberate, and the General Administration of Red Sea Reserves had received a notification from a diving center employee that he had found it On A marine animal near the beach in death in the southern region Mother Tindouba, south of Marsa Alam.

Upon receiving the notification, Dr. Yasmine Fouad issued directives to form a committee of researchers at Wadi El-Gamal Reserve to determine the quality of the marine animal, characterize its apparent condition, and review scientific measurements to determine the size and type of this organism.

The inspection resulted in it being a marine animal “Dugong dugon” or the so-called “Dojong Mermaid”, and all its measurements were taken. Its length ranges from about 3 meters and the diameter of the body is 80 cm and its type is male, and it has signs of scratches and ulcers scattered in different parts of the body caused by Its erosion on the surface of the coral reef area that separates the deep water from the beach, and the presence of semi-sunken wounds in the head area recently observed as a result of accidental collision with sharp edges that led to some segmental wounds behind the head and as a result of a period of time ranging from 2 to 3 days after his death .

This led to signs of the onset of decomposition, swelling of the body, emission of gases and an unpleasant odor, which necessitated the speedy taking of the necessary measures to expedite the procedures for healthy burial in order to preserve public health, and not to attract stray or desert animals to the site.

Fouad explained that sound scientific methods were followed for a burial in a safe area, and all procedures were photographed and documented to be used in scientific research.

The Minister of Environment has directed that several measures be taken in this regard to prevent these accidents from happening again, including coordination with the Maritime Safety Authority to oblige all launches to install a protection net around the launch harness, especially within areas sensitive to biological diversity to protect marine organisms present in those areas, as well as the continuation and increase of presence and review of controls Safe uses of important biodiversity areas in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba.

It also called for the tourism sector and civil societies to cooperate with the natural reserve areas and to expand the awareness-raising role, in addition to taking all measures to monitor any cases of the practices of any activity that violates or exceeds the specific rules regulated by the Environment Law and the binding international agreements to preserve biological diversity.

It is worth noting that the dugong known as the mermaid or dugong, “Dugong dugon” is a large marine mammal, ranging in length between 2.50 and 3 meters, and its body tapers at a forked and flat tail horizontally with “arms” in the form of two round fins, and it uses its large muscular lips. The “cracked” seaweed tears apart its strong molars, and the hard “stompers” in the front of its jaws crush food.

The male has two small canine-like cutters, and they usually travel in pairs or small groups. After a pregnancy lasting 13 to 14 months, the female usually gives birth to one child in the water, and the dugong animals represent one of the most important tourist attractions for the Marsa Alam region, which mainly depends on the factors of distinction in biological diversity and the unique nature of its coasts, and all environmental organizations work to raise awareness of preserving it and not Exposure to human pressure or poaching.