{"id":74074,"date":"2025-11-19T10:54:02","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T05:24:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=74074"},"modified":"2025-11-19T11:36:13","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T06:06:13","slug":"why-indias-dugongs-are-declining-threats-habitat-loss-conservation-efforts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/why-indias-dugongs-are-declining-threats-habitat-loss-conservation-efforts\/","title":{"rendered":"Why India\u2019s Dugongs Are Declining: Threats, Habitat Loss &#038; Conservation Efforts"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>Dugong Latest News<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A recent IUCN report released at the Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi warns that India\u2019s<\/span><b> dugongs (sea cows)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> face a growing risk of extinction.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Found mainly in the Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Mannar\u2013Palk Bay, and the Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands, their survival outlook is grim: long-term survival in the Gulf of Kutch is \u201chighly uncertain,\u201d conditions in the Andamans are \u201cchallenging,\u201d and populations in the Gulf of Mannar\u2013Palk Bay have significantly declined.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dugongs are listed as <\/span><b>Vulnerable<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on the IUCN Red List and enjoy the highest protection in India under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which bans hunting and trade.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These gentle marine herbivores play a crucial ecological role by maintaining healthy seagrass meadows, which support biodiversity and store carbon.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, dugongs face numerous threats, including coastal habitat degradation, seagrass loss, fishing-net entanglement, boat collisions, pollution, and human disturbances.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Indian government has initiated conservation. Despite this, the new report indicates that urgent and strengthened action is needed to prevent their decline from becoming irreversible.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Dugongs: The Gentle \u2018Sea Cows\u2019 of the Coast<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dugongs (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dugong dugon<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) are large, gentle marine mammals often linked to mermaid legends due to their calm, graceful behaviour.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Closely related to manatees, they have a rounded body and a dolphin-like tail. Adults can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh around 420 kg.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exclusively herbivorous, dugongs feed mainly on <\/span><b>seagrass meadows<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, consuming 30\u201340 kg daily \u2014 earning them the name <\/span><b><i>sea cows<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They inhabit shallow, warm coastal waters, typically in sheltered bays, lagoons, and estuaries less than 10 metres deep.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Why Dugongs Matter: Guardians of Seagrass and Coastal Productivity<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dugongs are vital to the health of <\/span><b>seagrass ecosystems<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which are among the planet\u2019s most efficient <\/span><b>carbon sinks<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their grazing naturally prunes seagrass, removes old shoots, prevents overgrowth, and enhances carbon storage in the sediment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By stirring up the seagrass beds while feeding, dugongs also release nutrients trapped in the sediment.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These nutrients support a wide range of marine life, including commercially valuable fish, shellfish, sea cucumbers, and other invertebrates.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research shows that seagrass habitats with dugongs generate at least \u20b92 crore more fish production annually, while areas lacking dugongs show significantly reduced productivity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In essence, dugongs are <\/span><b>ecosystem engineers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that boost biodiversity, sustain fisheries, and support coastal carbon cycles.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Declining Dugong Numbers<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once common in Indian waters, dugongs have declined drastically. A 2012 government report estimated around 200 individuals.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Current estimates vary: some experts suggest 400\u2013450, while others believe the number is below 250.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their elusive nature and murky habitats make accurate counts difficult.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Where Dugongs Survive in India<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Palk Bay\u2013Gulf of Mannar (Tamil Nadu):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Largest and most stable group, 150\u2013200 dugongs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Fewer than 50 individuals<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Gulf of Kutch (Gujarat):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Fewer than 20 individuals<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These populations are small, fragmented, and highly vulnerable.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Human Activities Driving the Decline<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The main threats come from coastal degradation and human activities:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fishing-net entanglement is the most common cause of death.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High turbidity, pollution, and bycatch threaten dugongs in the Gulf of Kutch and Tamil Nadu.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Andamans face high fisheries-related mortality.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, and untreated wastewater also pollute seagrass meadows \u2014 dugongs\u2019 primary feeding grounds.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Toxic Pollution Found in Dugong Tissues<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A recent study analysing 46 stranded dugongs found dangerous levels of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, and lead in organs such as liver, kidneys, and muscles.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These metals accumulate in seagrass sediments, indicating severe ecosystem contamination.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Slow Reproduction Increases Extinction Risk<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dugongs reproduce very slowly \u2014 females give birth once every several years.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This low reproductive rate hampers population recovery and makes the species extremely vulnerable to ongoing threats.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Government Efforts to Protect Dugongs \u2014 and What More Is Needed<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India has taken several steps to conserve dugongs. In 2010, the Centre set up a <\/span><b>Task Force<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for Dugong Conservation, followed by a <\/span><b>national dugong recovery programme<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in collaboration with Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and the Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A major milestone was the creation of the 448 sq km <\/span><b>Dugong Conservation Reserve<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in Palk Bay (2022) to safeguard seagrass meadows and dependent dugong populations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, experts say conservation efforts need strengthening. Researchers call for better monitoring, reduced fishing pressure, and incentive-based programmes for coastal communities.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While progress has been made, dugong populations will recover only with sustained, strengthened, and community-inclusive conservation actions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source:<\/b><strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/india-sea-cows-threat-10372190\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IE<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/india.mongabay.com\/2025\/10\/heavy-metal-bioaccumulation-weighs-down-dugongs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">MB<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>India\u2019s dugongs face rapid decline due to habitat loss, pollution, fishing nets and slow reproduction. Learn threats, numbers, ecological importance and conservation efforts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":48518,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[613,60,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-74074","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-dugong","9":"tag-mains-articles","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74074","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=74074"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74074\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48518"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=74074"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=74074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}