NMoQ presents first natural history exhibition on Dugong

Seagrass Tales, Dugong Trails

The National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) has unveiled Seagrass Tales, Dugong Trails, a special exhibition on the dugong (baqarat albahr), the shy marine mammal that has inhabited the waters surrounding Qatar's peninsula for more than 7,500 years. Seagrass Tales, Dugong Trails will examine the animal, its environment, and its ongoing cultural significance for Qatar, while also highlighting how the community can mitigate the dugong’s threat of extinction. The exhibition is presented in collaboration with ExxonMobil Research Qatar (EMRQ) with the help of researchers and scientists at Texas A&M University at Galveston and Qatar University (QU) and the support of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) and UNESCO Doha Office. “The dugong is a fascinating creature, and its story is sure to captivate museum visitors of all ages,” explained Sheikha Amna bint Abdulaziz bin Jassim Al Thani, Director, National Museum of Qatar. “We want to inform our public about the importance of protecting these mammals, which have special cultural and environmental significance to the people of Qatar. With this in mind, the National Museum has adopted the dugong as its official mascot. We are thankful to our many partners who supported the research behind Seagrass Tales, Dugong Trails, especially ExxonMobil Research Qatar.”