Threat to Dugong Population in India | 21 Nov 2025

Source: IE

Why in News? 

A recent report launched at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi highlights the growing threat to the dugong population in India.

What are Dugongs?

• About: Dugongs are marine mammals, related to manatees, with a plump appearance and a dolphin-like fluke tail. They grow up to 10 feet in length and weigh around 420 kilograms.
  • Manatees are large, herbivorous aquatic mammals of the Sirenia group, found in coastal regions of South America, West Africa, and the Caribbean.
• Diet: Dugongs are herbivorous marine mammals, feeding primarily on seagrass meadows like Cymodocea, Halophila, Thalassia, and Halodule, earning them the nickname "sea cows" and "farmers of the sea."
  • They require 30-40 kg of seagrass daily for sustenance and live in shallow, warm coastal waters, such as bays, lagoons, and estuaries, usually less than 10 meters deep.
• Distribution: They are primarily found in the Gulf of Kutch, the Gulf of Mannar–Palk Bay region (between India and Sri Lanka), and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
  • The report, titled ‘A Global Assessment of Dugong Status and Conservation Needs’, indicates that the survival of dugongs in the Gulf of Kutch and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is uncertain and highly challenged, while the population in the Gulf of Mannar–Palk Bay has significantly decreased.
• Behaviour: The dugong is a long-lived species, capable of living up to 70 years. Typically solitary or found in small mother-calf pairs, large herds common in Australian waters are rare in India. 
• Reproduction: They reach reproductive maturity at nine to ten years and give birth every three to five years, resulting in a slow reproductive cycle that limits their population growth rate to approximately 5% per year.
• Protection: 
  • The Dugong  is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 
  • Appendix I of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) bans international trade of dugongs or their parts, ensuring strict protection.
  • In India, Dugongs are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Significance: 
  • Ecosystem and Climate Benefits: Their role is so crucial that they are called ecosystem engineers, as they play a vital part in maintaining seagrass meadows.
    • These meadows, in turn, promote biodiversity, enhance carbon sequestration, and support marine life by releasing nutrients that benefit fish, shellfish, and invertebrates. 
  • Economic Impact: Seagrass beds with dugongs contribute at least Rs 2 crore per year in additional fish production, highlighting their significant ecological and economic value.

What are the Challenges and Conservation Measures for the Dugong Population?

Challenges

• Population Decline: The dugong population in Indian waters, once abundant, has significantly declined over the years, with a 2012 report by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change estimating around 200 individuals.
  • While some environmentalists estimate the current dugong population to be between 400 and 450, others believe it remains below 250, suggesting little to no substantial increase.
  • Accurately determining the exact number of dugongs in India remains challenging, as they are elusive creatures living in murky coastal waters, where traditional survey methods often fail to provide reliable data.
• Pollution: A study published in Marine Pollution Bulletin revealed the presence of toxic metals like arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, and lead in the tissues of stranded dugongs, primarily due to industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, and untreated wastewater.
• Slow Reproductive Rate: Dugongs have a slow reproduction cycle, with females giving birth once every several years, making them more vulnerable to extinction.
• Habitat loss: It is a major concern, as seagrass meadows are being destroyed by port construction, dredging, land reclamation, and pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, and industrial waste. 
• Climate change: It has added another layer of vulnerability, with rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, and extreme weather events affecting both food availability and breeding grounds. 

Conservation Measures

• Convention on Migratory Species (CMS): India is a signatory to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) since 1983 and to the CMS Dugong Memorandum of Understanding since 2008. 
  • In 2010, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) constituted a Task Force for Conservation of Dugongs.
• Dugong Conservation Reserve: It was established in Palk Bay in 2022 by the Tamil Nadu government, covering an area of 448 square kilometers to protect seagrass meadows and dugongs.
• Dugong Recovery Programme: It is a national programme launched in collaboration with the state governments of Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Seagrass Habitat Protection: Protecting and restoring seagrass meadows is crucial for dugong conservation, requiring the mapping and monitoring of these habitats, as well as restricting harmful activities, with a focus on community involvement, particularly local fishers.
• Regulating Harmful Fishing Practices: Implementing regulations to limit destructive fishing methods, such as gill nets and trawling, in dugong habitats is essential to reduce accidental harm and safeguard the species.
• Increased Research and Technology: Additional funding for long-term dugong studies is necessary, with a focus on citizen science and traditional knowledge, while technologies like tagging and drones can help in tracking and identifying key habitats.