Status and Conservation of Dugong dugon in India: Strategies for species recovery

Abstract

Dugong (Dugong dugon) also called as 'Sea Cow' is one of the four surviving species in the Order Sirenia and it is the only existing species of herbivorous mammal that lives exclusively in the sea including in India. Dugong is protected in India and occurs in Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Gulf of Kutch, and Andaman and Nicobar islands. Dugong, once abundant in Indian water is now reduced to about 200 individuals and it is believed to be continuously declining in its number and range. Dugong conservation is nothing but coastal conservation being a flagship species in its range. In order to conserve and manage the declining populations of dugong in India, a 'Task Force for Conservation of Dugong in India' was constituted by the Government of India to formulate the conservation action plan for this species. India has the largest population of dugong in the South Asia Sub-region and therefore, it has a significant role to play in the dugong conservation at global level in general and in the South Asia Sub-region in specific. In this background this chapter is to look into the entire gamut of issues related to conservation of dugongs and facilitate to act as a leading nation in the South Asia Sub-region with respect to dugong conservation in the region.