Dugongs, or sea cows, are large herbivorous mammals usually found in shallow coastal waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Wildlife lovers will be happy to know that, due to strong conservation efforts, the population of these vulnerable mammals has stabilised along the Tamil Nadu coast. And the credit goes to the people working to protect them. Here’s more on this.
Dugong Number Stable In Tamil Nadu
Supriya Sahu, IAS, has made an important announcement. She recently posted on her official X account that the dugong population estimate has stabilised. These numbers were recorded by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. Authorities have estimated a total population of 270 dugongs along the Tamil Nadu coast. This includes 158 dugongs in Palk Bay and 122 in the Gulf of Mannar.
These figures suggest that dugongs in Tamil Nadu are doing well. Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar together represent the largest viable dugong population in India. Credit for these numbers goes to WII, which has been running the Dugong Recovery Programme supported through CAMPA. Supriya Sahu also acknowledged the sustained conservation work of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, including community engagement to protect dugongs.
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India’s 1st Dugong Conservation Centre Coming Up
According to Supriya Sahu’s post on X, the survey also confirmed the presence of mother-calf pairs. This clearly indicates active breeding along the Tamil Nadu coast. Authorities are now planning to set up India’s first dedicated dugong conservation centre at Manora in Thanjavur district. The project will cost around ₹40.94 crore, with support from the World Bank Group.
The centre will function as a state-of-the-art hub for dugong research, awareness programmes and community participation. You should know that dugongs play a very important ecological role. They are marine herbivores and graze on seagrass in shallow waters. They are shy mammals, move very slowly and can live up to 70 years.
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The IUCN lists the dugong as a species vulnerable to extinction. That is why this latest news from Tamil Nadu is being considered delightful!
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/ cinoby
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