Relevance for UPSC (GS III – Environment & Biodiversity) •
Source: Indian Express
A recent IUCN conservation report warns of a steep decline in dugong populations across the Indian coastline.
India’s remaining dugongs—found mainly in Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Gulf of Kutch, and Andaman–Nicobar Islands—face increasing habitat loss and anthropogenic pressures, making survival uncertain.
About Dugongs
- Scientific name: Dugong dugon
- Status: Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)
- Protection in India: Schedule I, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
- Habitat: Shallow coastal waters <10 m; seagrass meadows
- Distribution in India: Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Andaman–Nicobar Islands
- Ecological role: Maintain healthy seagrass beds, support fisheries, and contribute to blue carbon storage.
Threats , Measures and Way Forward
| Why Dugongs Are Declining | Government Measures & Gaps | Way Forward |
| • Loss of seagrass habitats due to dredging, trawling and coastal development. • Net entanglement, boat collisions, pollution. • Slow reproduction, high calf mortality. • Climate impacts on shallow coastal systems. • Fewer than 200 dugongs estimated in India. | • Dugong Conservation Reserve (Tamil Nadu, 2022). • Marine mammal task forces, mapping, monitoring efforts. • Proposal for National Dugong Recovery Programme. • Gaps: weak enforcement, unregulated coastal projects, fishing pressure. | • Restore and protect seagrass meadows. • Reduce gear-related mortality; promote community conservation. • Strengthen protected areas in dugong hotspots. • Integrate conservation with coastal zone management and climate-resilient marine planning. |
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