Why in the news?

  • Fossils indicate that Dugongs have shaped the Persian Gulf for over 20 Million years.

Dugong

  • What is it?: Dugong (Dugong dugon) also called ‘Sea Cow’ is the only existing species of herbivorous mammal that lives exclusively in the sea including in India.
  • Distribution and Habitat: Found in over 30 countries and in India seen in the Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch, Palk Bay, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
  • Threats:
    • Habitat degradation (especially of seagrass beds)
    • Boat strikes and Entanglement in fishing nets
    • Pollution (oil spills, plastics)
    • Climate change and rising sea levels
    • Illegal hunting (though now rare in India)
  • Conservation Status:
    • IUCN Red List status: Vulnerable
    • Wild (Life) Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
    • CITES: Appendix I
  • Conservation Efforts:
    • India’s Effort:
      • Dugong Conservation Reserve: India’s first in Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu (2022)
      • Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)
      • Recovery Programme for Dugongs under National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP)
    • International Efforts: Part of UNEP’s Dugong Conservation Programme

Source: The Hindu