Dugongs vs. Tiger Sharks | National Geographic

Australia’s Shark Bay is home to over

Australia’s Shark Bay is home to over 10,000 dugongs it seems like a perfect

10,000 dugongs it seems like a perfect

10,000 dugongs it seems like a perfect spot for these air-breathing herbivores

spot for these air-breathing herbivores

spot for these air-breathing herbivores the water is shallow and peppered with

the water is shallow and peppered with

the water is shallow and peppered with beds of seagrass the dugongs main source

beds of seagrass the dugongs main source

beds of seagrass the dugongs main source of food biologist Erin were Singh has

of food biologist Erin were Singh has

of food biologist Erin were Singh has come here from Canada to study the

come here from Canada to study the

come here from Canada to study the dugong we know almost nothing about its

dugong we know almost nothing about its

dugong we know almost nothing about its habitat use patterns its feeding habits

habitat use patterns its feeding habits

habitat use patterns its feeding habits and the way it gets along with some of

and the way it gets along with some of

and the way it gets along with some of its major predators like tiger sharks

its major predators like tiger sharks

its major predators like tiger sharks the tiger shark a beautiful agile and

the tiger shark a beautiful agile and

the tiger shark a beautiful agile and powerful hunter is the one thing that

powerful hunter is the one thing that

powerful hunter is the one thing that keeps Shark Bay from being a paradise

keeps Shark Bay from being a paradise

keeps Shark Bay from being a paradise for the slow-moving dugongs named for

for the slow-moving dugongs named for

for the slow-moving dugongs named for their stripes tiger sharks are massive

their stripes tiger sharks are massive

their stripes tiger sharks are massive warm water predators capable of growing

warm water predators capable of growing

warm water predators capable of growing over 14 feet long and reaching weights

over 14 feet long and reaching weights

over 14 feet long and reaching weights of 2,000 pounds seems like a bit of a

of 2,000 pounds seems like a bit of a

of 2,000 pounds seems like a bit of a mismatch for the smaller dugongs which

mismatch for the smaller dugongs which

mismatch for the smaller dugongs which are more closely related to the elephant

are more closely related to the elephant

are more closely related to the elephant than to other seafaring mammals like

than to other seafaring mammals like

than to other seafaring mammals like seals and walruses and there’s a very

seals and walruses and there’s a very

seals and walruses and there’s a very interesting race going on right here in

interesting race going on right here in

interesting race going on right here in Shark Bay between dugongs and tiger

Shark Bay between dugongs and tiger

Shark Bay between dugongs and tiger sharks to get a closer look at that race

sharks to get a closer look at that race

sharks to get a closer look at that race from the perspective of the dugongs our

from the perspective of the dugongs our

from the perspective of the dugongs our team deploys some critter cams

the team is eager to learn what they can

the team is eager to learn what they can about how these clumsy looking

about how these clumsy looking

about how these clumsy looking vegetarians managed to evade the tiger

vegetarians managed to evade the tiger

vegetarians managed to evade the tiger sharks there are a few surprises in

sharks there are a few surprises in

sharks there are a few surprises in store the dugongs are going much deeper

store the dugongs are going much deeper

store the dugongs are going much deeper than Aaron thought but there’s not

than Aaron thought but there’s not

than Aaron thought but there’s not nearly as much food down here as there

nearly as much food down here as there

nearly as much food down here as there is in the shallower waters still the

is in the shallower waters still the

is in the shallower waters still the critter camp

critter camp

critter camp team believes that feeding at greater

team believes that feeding at greater

team believes that feeding at greater depth may be how the dugongs managed to

depth may be how the dugongs managed to

depth may be how the dugongs managed to evade the Sharks shallow water means

evade the Sharks shallow water means

evade the Sharks shallow water means tiger sharks so dugongs do a lot of

tiger sharks so dugongs do a lot of

tiger sharks so dugongs do a lot of their foraging in deep water where the

their foraging in deep water where the

their foraging in deep water where the tiger sharks don’t hunt another of

tiger sharks don’t hunt another of

tiger sharks don’t hunt another of nature’s mystery solved

nature’s mystery solved

nature’s mystery solved thanks to a dedicated team of scientists

thanks to a dedicated team of scientists

thanks to a dedicated team of scientists and Crittercam