IUCN Report Warns of Growing Threats to India’s Dugong Population

A new report, “A Global Assessment of Dugong Status and Conservation Needs”, presented at the IUCN Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, highlights increasing risks to dugongs (sea cows) in India. Populations are concentrated in the Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Mannar–Palk Bay, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

• Regional Status

• Dugong survival in the Gulf of Kutch is “highly uncertain,” while the situation in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is “challenging.”
• In the Gulf of Mannar–Palk Bay, the population is much lower than in recent years.

• Conservation Status

• The IUCN Red List classifies dugongs as vulnerable to extinction.
• In India, dugongs are protected under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, offering the highest legal safeguards against hunting and trade.

• About Dugongs

• Dugongs (Dugong dugon) are gentle marine mammals, believed to have inspired ancient mermaid legends.
• Related to manatees, they have a plump body and a dolphin-like fluke tail.
• Adults can grow up to 10 feet and weigh around 420 kg.
• Dugongs are exclusively herbivorous, feeding mainly on seagrass meadows, earning them the nickname “sea cows.”

• Ecological Importance

• Dugongs help maintain healthy seagrass ecosystems by grazing, pruning leaves, and uprooting old shoots, which supports the overall health of marine habitats.

Source: IE