Bazaruto National Park:

The world renowned archipelago consists of five islands that lie 10 to 25km offshore, between Vilankulo in the south and Inhasorro in the north. The park is managed by the National Directorate for Conservation Areas of the Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT). Magaruque and Benguerra are both visible from the shore at Vilankulo. Bazaruto is the largest island whilst the tiny Bangue is uninhabited and Santa Carolina (also known as Paradise Island) has no facilities for tourists at present. Four exclusive upmarket lodges are located on the three main islands.

Dugongs:

The dugong (Dugong dugon) is a large marine mammal which, together with the three species of manatee, is one of four extant members of the order Sirenia, the only fully-aquatic herbivorous mammals. It is the only living representative of the once-diverse family Dugongidae. Its closest modern relative, Steller's Sea Cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) was hunted to extinction in the 18th century. It is also the only sirenian in its range which spans the waters of at least 37 countries throughout the Indo-Pacific. The majority of dugongs live in the northern waters of Australia between Shark Bay and Moreton Bay. In addition, the dugong is the only strictly-marine herbivorous mammal.

Like all modern sirenians, the dugong has a fusiform body with no dorsal fin or hindlimbs. Instead it possesses paddle-like forelimbs used to manoeuvre itself. It is easily distinguished from the manatees by its fluked, dolphin-like tail but also possesses a unique skull and teeth. The dugong is heavily dependent on seagrasses for subsistence and is thus restricted to the coastal habitats where they grow. The largest dugong concentrations typically occur in wide, shallow, protected areas such as bays, mangrove channels and the lee sides of large inshore islands. Its snout is sharply downturned, an adaptation for grazing and uprooting benthic seagrasses.

The dugong has been hunted for thousands of years, often for its meat and oil. Dugong hunting also has great cultural significance. The dugong's current distribution is reduced and disjunct. Many populations are close to extinction. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the dugong as a species vulnerable to extinction. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species limits or bans the trade of derived products based on the population involved. Despite being legally protected in many countries throughout their range, the main causes of population decline remain anthropogenic (caused or influenced by humans) and include hunting, habitat degradation, and fishing-related fatalities. With its long lifespan and slow rate of reproduction, the dugong is especially vulnerable to these types of exploitation. In addition, dugongs are threatened by storms, parasites, and their natural predators, sharks, killer whales, and crocodiles.

Information courtesy of www.wikipedia.org.