1st Dugong Conservation Reserve In Palk Bay

1st Dugong conservation reserve in Palk Bay

India’s 1st Dugong conservation reserve will be setup in Palk Bay in the state of Tamil Nadu.

The Dugong conservation reserve will cover a 500-sqkm.
The proposed conservation area has the highest concentration of dugongs in the country.
The reserve will span the northern part of the Palk Bay from Adirampattinam to Amapattinam.

The dugong (Dugong dugon), also called the sea cow, is a herbivorous mammal.
They can grow upto three meters long, weigh about 300 kilograms, and live for about 65 to 70 years, grazing on seagrass and coming to the surface to breathe.
They are found in over 30 countries and in India are seen in the Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch, Palk Bay, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Conservations
- IUCN: Vulnerable
- Indian Wildlife Act 1972: Schedule 1
- CITES: Appendix I
The loss of seagrass habitats, water pollution and degradation of the coastal ecosystem due to developmental activities have made life tough for these slow-moving animals. Dugongs are also victims of accidental entanglement in fishing nets and collision with boats, trawlers.

It is one of four living species of the order Sirenia, which also includes three species of manatees.
It is the only living representative of the once-diverse family Dugongidae.
The dugong is the only sirenian in its range.

Palk Bay is a semi-enclosed shallow water body with a water depth maximum of 13 meters.
Located between India and Sri Lanka along the Tamil Nadu coast, the dugong is a flagship species in the region.
Palk Bay is considered to be one amongst the major sinks for sediments along with Gulf of Mannar.
To the south of Palk Bay, Adam’s Bridge separates Palk Bay from the Gulf of Mannar. Despite being a very shallow channel, Wave effects are transmitted to a small extent through the Adam’s Bridge passage.

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