According
to Wikipedia on the dugong: 'Although they are social animals, they are usually
solitary or found in pairs due to the inability of seagrass beds to support
large populations. [13] 'Gatherings
of hundreds of dugongs sometimes happen,[15] but
they last only for a short period of time.[13] Because
they are shy, and do not approach humans, little is known about dugong
behaviour.[13] (1)
About a week ago a
Facebook contact, Amy, provided me with the information below:
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·
Hi Richard, I have
not heard about any realistic story about dhole. However, a friend told me
another story about the sea cows and their ancestors’ tombs. During spring
(Ching Ming Festival) and autumn (Chung Yeung Festival), villagers will go to
pay respect
to their ancestors at the tombs in the hill side next to their village (Chak
Keng).
For many years, during the ceremony they saw waves rolling toward their ancestors’ tombs, just like an act to bow to their ancestors. The village is located in a very quiet cove – the water is always very calm so these waves look very strange and noticeable to them. When they took a closer look, they found that the waves were actually caused by many (about a hundred) sea cows swimming toward their village. This had happened for many years until the end of World War II. The villagers became very poor and they had very little food. Some villagers used the guns leftover during the war to kill a few sea cows for food. Afterward, they hardly see the sea cows come back again.
This story happened almost 70 years ago and my friend learned about this from his grand father. I hope you can understand what I meant.
For many years, during the ceremony they saw waves rolling toward their ancestors’ tombs, just like an act to bow to their ancestors. The village is located in a very quiet cove – the water is always very calm so these waves look very strange and noticeable to them. When they took a closer look, they found that the waves were actually caused by many (about a hundred) sea cows swimming toward their village. This had happened for many years until the end of World War II. The villagers became very poor and they had very little food. Some villagers used the guns leftover during the war to kill a few sea cows for food. Afterward, they hardly see the sea cows come back again.
This story happened almost 70 years ago and my friend learned about this from his grand father. I hope you can understand what I meant.
·
Richard
Muirhead Ann
this is very interesting indeed.Do you believe all the sea cows have now
becoming extinct in Hong Kong waters or are one
or two still seen? Are you familiar with the story from the book The Hong Kong
Countryside by Geoffrey Herklots that in 1940 or 1941
a dugong was killed in Hong Kong harbour? There
is a photo somewhere.Also, I have been told about a black panther in Hong Kong in the 1960s and even an Eurasian
lynx!
·
Richard
Muirhead Ann
do you know my blog Muirhead`s Mysteries?See Google.It has many Hong Kong
related stories on it.Also,please may I reproduce your message to me about sea
cows in Hong Kong as my next blog?
·
Ann
Wong Yes,
you may use my story in your blog.
·
Richard
Muirhead Thanks,and
if you ever recall any more Hong Kong odd fauna
stories I`d love to read them
·
Ann
Wong Richard,
My friend also told me that, although he has never seen any sea cows in his
village, he thinks some sea cows did live around his village a few decades age.
He recalled that about 40 years ago his grand father pointed to the sea and told
him that
the special waves in a distance indicated that some sea cows were swimming under
the sea because their movement causes some waves that are different from waves
caused by wind.
·
Richard
Muirhead Thanks
Ann,what was the name of this village?Were the Hong
Kong mermaid reports the same as
dugongs?
·
Ann
Wong Chek Keng Village ,
Sai Kung Hong
Kong
·
Richard
Muirhead Thanks
(2)
·
So this all adds more
information to what we already know about the dugong in Hong Kong – which isn`t a lot.
2. Facebook
correspondence, Ann Wong with Richard
Muirhead
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