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Dugong Conservation in India – The Tamil Nadu Model

30 Sep 2025 GS 3 Environment
Dugong Conservation in India – The Tamil Nadu Model Click to view full image

Species Profile

  • Common name: Dugong (Sea Cow).

  • Scientific name: Dugong dugon.

  • Habitat: Warm coastal waters, confined to seagrass beds in bays & lagoons.

  • Distribution in India:

    • Gulf of Mannar

    • Palk Bay

    • Gulf of Kutch

    • Andaman & Nicobar Islands

  • Ecological role: “Farmers of the sea” – graze on seagrass (30–40 kg/day), aid seagrass regeneration, enhance fish productivity.

  • Conservation status:

    • IUCN Red List – Vulnerable

    • Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 – Schedule I (highest protection)

Threats

  • Historical hunting for meat (major decline till 1970s).

  • Bycatch mortality – accidental entanglement in fishing nets, drowning.

  • Habitat degradation – seagrass loss due to trawling, boat movement, coastal development.

  • Very low reproductive rate.

Tamil Nadu Conservation

  1. Legal Protection:

    • Dugong Conservation Reserve (2022) – 448.34 sq. km in northern Palk Bay (Thanjavur & Pudukkottai districts).

    • Contains 12,250 hectares of seagrass meadows.

  2. IUCN Recognition (2025):

    • IUCN motion adopted at World Conservation Congress (Abu Dhabi).

    • The motion, proposed by the OMCAR (Organisation for Marine Conservation, Awareness and Research) Foundation, a non-profit involved in the conservation efforts.

    • Recognised as a global model for dugong conservation.

  3. Population Recovery:

    • 2012–13: ~250 dugongs across India.

    • 2025: >200 dugongs in PB–GoM region alone (WII drone survey).

  4. Multi-stakeholder Approach:

    • Government: Tamil Nadu Forest Department, MoEFCC (CAMPA funding), TN Coastal Restoration Mission (TN-SHORE).

    • Research bodies: WII, NCSCM, Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute.

    • NGOs: OMCAR Foundation.

    • International Support: JICA projects.

  5. Community Involvement:

    • Fisherfolk trained as first responders in rescue efforts.

    • 150+ awareness programmes; 9 rescues in last 2 years.

    • Compensation for nets cut during rescues; reward programmes for fishers.

    • “Dugong Ambassadors” – scholarships for fisherfolk children to reduce dropouts & spread awareness.

    • Biodegradable materials were used to ensure sustainable restoration without causing any harm to the natural environment below the sea, said the official.
    • Involving local fisherfolk, healthy seagrass sprigs of Syringodium isoetifolium, Cymodocea serrulata and Halodule pinifolia were transplanted carefully in the designated area in the sea.


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