Sea cows of India: Population of vulnerable dugong mammal stabilising
India's vulnerable dugong population shows promising stability along the Tamil Nadu coast, with a recent survey counting 270 individuals in key habitats. Conservation efforts, including protected reserves and community involvement, are key to sustaining these gentle sea cows.
India's dugong population along the Tamil Nadu coastline shows remarkable stability, with a new survey revealing 270 individuals, the largest viable group in the country.
Conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, the study counted 158 dugongs in Palk Bay and 112 in the Gulf of Mannar.
WHERE ARE SEA COWS FOUND?
Dugong dugon, also known as sea cows, are strictly marine herbivores found in warm, shallow coastal waters of the Indo-West Pacific region, spanning around 40 countries from East Africa to the western Pacific, including northern Australia, home to the world's largest population, the Persian Gulf, Southeast Asia, and parts of the Indian Ocean.
In India, their distribution is now fragmented and restricted to isolated pockets: primarily the Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar along the Tamil Nadu coast, the country's main stronghold, the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Populations in other areas, like the Gulf of Kutch and Andaman & Nicobar, are smaller and more vulnerable, while the Palk Bay, Gulf of Mannar region supports the most stable and significant numbers, thanks to abundant seagrass meadows.
The findings show that dugongs are faring well in these seagrass-rich waters. Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar together host India's primary stronghold for the endangered marine mammal, thanks to targeted conservation.
Sightings of mother-calf pairs signal robust breeding activity, a positive indicator for long-term survival.
This stability stems from WII's Dugong Recovery Programme, funded via CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority).
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department's efforts, including community engagement, have curbed threats like accidental entanglement in fishing gear, habitat loss, and poaching.
A key milestone is the state government's notification of the 448 square kilometre Dugong Conservation Reserve in Palk Bay, safeguarding core habitat.
To bolster these gains, authorities are establishing India's first Dugong Conservation Centre at Manora in Thanjavur District.
Costing Rs 40.94 crore with support from the World Bank Group, the state-of-the-art facility will drive research, public awareness, and community involvement. It promises advanced monitoring, training for locals, and strategies to mitigate human-dugong conflicts.
Dugongs play a vital ecological role, grazing seagrass beds that support coastal biodiversity and carbon storage. Yet, they remain vulnerable globally due to bycatch and degradation of habitats.
Tamil Nadu's model offers hope, demonstrating how science, policy, and grassroots action can revive marine giants. As the centre takes shape, experts anticipate even stronger data to guide national dugong recovery, ensuring these gentle herbivores endure.
India's dugong population along the Tamil Nadu coastline shows remarkable stability, with a new survey revealing 270 individuals, the largest viable group in the country.
Conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, the study counted 158 dugongs in Palk Bay and 112 in the Gulf of Mannar.
WHERE ARE SEA COWS FOUND?
Dugong dugon, also known as sea cows, are strictly marine herbivores found in warm, shallow coastal waters of the Indo-West Pacific region, spanning around 40 countries from East Africa to the western Pacific, including northern Australia, home to the world's largest population, the Persian Gulf, Southeast Asia, and parts of the Indian Ocean.
In India, their distribution is now fragmented and restricted to isolated pockets: primarily the Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar along the Tamil Nadu coast, the country's main stronghold, the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Populations in other areas, like the Gulf of Kutch and Andaman & Nicobar, are smaller and more vulnerable, while the Palk Bay, Gulf of Mannar region supports the most stable and significant numbers, thanks to abundant seagrass meadows.
The findings show that dugongs are faring well in these seagrass-rich waters. Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar together host India's primary stronghold for the endangered marine mammal, thanks to targeted conservation.
Sightings of mother-calf pairs signal robust breeding activity, a positive indicator for long-term survival.
This stability stems from WII's Dugong Recovery Programme, funded via CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority).
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department's efforts, including community engagement, have curbed threats like accidental entanglement in fishing gear, habitat loss, and poaching.
A key milestone is the state government's notification of the 448 square kilometre Dugong Conservation Reserve in Palk Bay, safeguarding core habitat.
To bolster these gains, authorities are establishing India's first Dugong Conservation Centre at Manora in Thanjavur District.
Costing Rs 40.94 crore with support from the World Bank Group, the state-of-the-art facility will drive research, public awareness, and community involvement. It promises advanced monitoring, training for locals, and strategies to mitigate human-dugong conflicts.
Dugongs play a vital ecological role, grazing seagrass beds that support coastal biodiversity and carbon storage. Yet, they remain vulnerable globally due to bycatch and degradation of habitats.
Tamil Nadu's model offers hope, demonstrating how science, policy, and grassroots action can revive marine giants. As the centre takes shape, experts anticipate even stronger data to guide national dugong recovery, ensuring these gentle herbivores endure.