Famous as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon have been the subject of legends. It is said that King Nebuchadnezzar built the fabled gardens to cheer up his wife Amyitis, a Medean princess. Hailing from a mountainous region, Amyitis probably found the arid terrain of Mesopotamia depressingly different from the green and forested land of her parents.

The “Hanging Gardens” were not literally hanging. The gardens were probably “overhanging” as in the case of a balcony or a terrace, hence their name. Ancient historians such as Strabo and Diodorus Siculus describe terraces which were filled with earth on which were planted trees of different kinds. It is said that giant screw pumps were used to lift water from the Euphrates River and water the gardens. The gardens are believed to have been destroyed during an earthquake in the first century A.D.

The gardens must have truly been a sight to behold in the arid and uneventful landscape of ancient Mesopotamia. They would have greatly added to the grandeur of Babylon, which the historian Herodotus said excelled in splendor all the cities in the known world.

image courtesy: commons.wikimedia.com

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The Dugong is an aquatic mammal that lives in the sea, usually in shallow areas such as channels, bays, etc. Dugongs can be found in many regions around the world. The largest population of about 85,000 can be found in Australia.

The Scientific name for the Dugong is Dugong dugon. Dugongs belong to the family Sirenia. This family of aquatic mammals also includes the manatee and the Stellar Sea Cow which was hunted to extinction in the 18th Century.

Dugongs can grow to nearly 11 feet in length and an adult dugong may weigh nearly 400 kilograms. The Females are usually larger than the males. Dugongs feed on sea grass which grows on the seabed. Because of this, they are sometimes referred to as “sea cows”. The forelimbs of the dugongs are shaped like paddles. The dugong does not have hind limbs. Instead, it has a dolphin-like tail which helps the dugong in moving forward. Using these paddle-shaped front limbs, the dugongs moves along the seabed in search of sea grass.

Dugongs are solitary animals and are usually seen alone. Sometimes, a mother can be seen with her calf. Calves are born after a pregnancy that lasts for 12 to 14 months. The bond between the mother and her calf is extremely strong. Calves stay with their mothers for many years before moving out on their own. Male Dugongs start to grow tusks between 12-15 years of age.

However today, these gentle creatures are threatened by destruction of their habitat, hunting and pollution. In many areas, hunting has greatly reduced the dugong population. The dugong is protected by laws in many countries. Dugongs have few natural enemies such as sharks, crocodiles and killer whales. They have been known to live upto 70 years in stable protected environments.

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