World Dugong Day: Status and Conservation of India’s Sea Cow

Why in the news

The day highlighted the shy ‘sea cow’ and the threats to its seagrass habitat.

Key facts

• Species: Dugong dugon; eats only seagrass such as Cymodocea and Halophila.
• Range: Andaman and Nicobar, Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Gulf of Kachchh.
• Life cycle: up to 70 years; matures at 9-10; calves every 3-5 years.

Threats

• Seagrass loss from development, dredging, ports and pollution.
• Net entanglement, boat strikes, poaching.
• Warming, acidification, cyclones and rising seas.

Conservation

• India joined CMS in 1983 and the Dugong MoU in 2008.
• Palk Bay reserve has 122.5 sq km of seagrass; led by OMCAR Foundation, Wildlife Institute of India and Tamil Nadu Forest Department.

Exam angle

Palk Bay reserve and CMS.