21.11.2025

Dugong Conservation in India

Context

The dugong (Dugong dugon), commonly called the sea cow, is a large, herbivorous marine mammal found in warm, shallow coastal waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In India, dugongs are primarily distributed in the Gulf of Mannar–Palk Bay (Tamil Nadu), the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and the Gulf of Kutch (Gujarat). Populations are in sharp decline, raising serious conservation concerns for this species.

Key Characteristics

• Size and Appearance: Dugongs are streamlined mammals, growing up to 3 meters in length and weighing between 300–420 kg, with whale-like tails and paddle-shaped flippers.
   
• Diet: Strictly herbivorous, feeding mainly on seagrass. They consume 30–40 kg daily, playing a key role in maintaining seagrass meadows.
   
• Ecological Role: Dugong feeding supports the health of seagrass meadows, which act as blue carbon sinks and sustain coastal biodiversity.
   
• Legal Status: Listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, offering the highest protection in India.
   

Conservation Status and Numbers

• Dugong populations in India are estimated at only 200–450 individuals.
   
• Population distribution:
   
  • Palk Bay–Gulf of Mannar: 150–200 individuals
     
  • Andaman & Nicobar Islands: fewer than 50
     
  • Gulf of Kutch: fewer than 20
     
• Reproductive Rate: Very low; females give birth only once every 3–7 years, making recovery slow and populations highly vulnerable.
   

Threats

• Habitat Loss: Degradation of seagrass beds due to coastal development, dredging, and sedimentation.
   
• Bycatch: Accidental entanglement in fishing nets.
   
• Pollution: Marine contamination including heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, lead), agricultural runoff, and untreated wastewater.
   
• Human Disturbance: Overfishing, port expansion, and tourism-related activities.
   

These factors collectively increase the risk of local extinctions.

Conservation Efforts

• Dugong Conservation Reserve (2022): Established in Palk Bay, covering 448 sq km to protect critical seagrass habitats and dugong populations.
   
• National Programmes and Task Forces: Aim to monitor populations, prevent bycatch, and strengthen habitat protection.
   
• Community Engagement: Initiatives to incentivise local communities and reduce fishing pressures.
   
• Research and Monitoring: Efforts are ongoing to improve data collection and track population trends.
   

Ecological Importance

• Dugongs are ecosystem engineers, maintaining the health and productivity of seagrass meadows.
   
• Healthy seagrass meadows support diverse marine species and enhance coastal fisheries.
   
• Presence of dugongs is linked to increased fish production and resilient coastal ecosystems.
   

Recent Concerns

• The 2025 IUCN report warns that dugong survival in the Gulf of Kutch and Andaman & Nicobar Islands is highly uncertain.
   
• Populations in Palk Bay–Gulf of Mannar have declined further due to intensifying threats.
   
• Effective recovery will require stronger regulations, enhanced community involvement, and reduced fishing pressures.
   

Conclusion

Dugongs symbolize the fragility of India’s coastal biodiversity. Protecting them requires urgent conservation interventions, including habitat protection, stricter pollution control, sustainable fishing practices, and community-led stewardship. Safeguarding dugongs is not only crucial for the species itself but also for maintaining healthy, productive coastal ecosystems in India.