India must prioritize dugong conservation.

Dugongs in India’s Marine Ecosystems

• Dugongs, the only herbivorous mammals in India’s marine ecosystems, are the only sea cows.

• They are found in shallow waters, feeding on seagrasses of the genera Cymodocea, Halophila, Thalassia, and Halodule.

• Dugongs consume 20-30 tonnes of seagrass per day, consuming leaves and stems against their horned teeth before swallowing.

• They are found along the Indian coastline, primarily in warm waters around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, and the Gulf of Kutch.

Treatment to Dugongs

• Dugongs are listed as ‘vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species due to their slow reproduction and need for vast, undisturbed seagrass meadows.

• In India, they are classified as “regionally endangered.”

• Rising pressure from residential, recreational, and agricultural activities is increasing the risk of pollution.

• Changes in fishing methods, construction of ports, dredging, and land reclamation for industries and tourism have wreaked havoc on these delicate ecosystems.

• Climate change, accidental entanglement in fishing gear, increased human movement and activity in dugong habitats, and illegal hunting pose threats to the species.

Dugong Conservation in India

Dugongs’ Shyness and Conservation

• Dugongs are shy creatures, causing a lack of awareness among coastal and fishing communities.

• India has been a party to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals since 1983 and the Convention’s Memorandum of Understanding on Dugong Conservation and Habitat Management since 2008.

India’s First Dugong Conservation Reserve

• In 2022, the Government of India announced the creation of the country’s first dugong conservation reserve in Palk Bay, Tamil Nadu.

• The reserve area has around 122.5 sq. km of intact seagrass beds, ensuring habitat and food for the dugong population.

Efforts to Protect Dugongs

• Long-term monitoring and research by the OMCAR Foundation, the Wildlife Institute of India, and the Tamil Nadu Forest Department have been working to improve dugong conservation and seagrass restoration for over a decade.

• Alternative livelihood options such as dugong-friendly ecotourism using local youth as eco-guides can fulfill the dual role of monitoring dugong populations while raising awareness of their habitats and behaviour.

Community Involvement and Research

• Awareness campaigns in coastal villages and training of local communities and fishers to report dugong sightings or strandings are important aspects of dugong conservation.

• More support, both financial and institutional, is needed for long-term studies of dugong populations, behaviors, genetics, and threats.

Seagrass’s Importance

• Seagrass meadows stabilize the seafloor, support fisheries, capture carbon, and shelter marine life.

• India’s most extensive seagrass meadows occur along the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay, off the coast of Tamil Nadu, supporting more than 13 species of seagrass.