Tamil Nadu to set up India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve

• Government of Tamil Nadu recently announced its plan to set up India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve in the Palk Bay on the southeast coast.
• Dugong or sea cow is an endangered marine mammal. It is facing extinction because of habitat loss, sea pollution, and loss of seagrass.
• Dugong is found in Gulf of Mannar and at Palk Bay in Tamil Nadu.
• Gulf of Mannar is a shallow bay area between south eastern end of Tamil Nadu and western Sri Lanka.
• With the help of community participation, Government will also construct a Dugong Marine Conservation Reserve in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay area to protect the species.
• Marine Conservation Reserve will be established over an area of 500km in Palk Bay.
• It is believed that, an estimated 200 individuals live in the Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar area which would largely benefit from Tamil Nadu government’s recent decision to establish conservation reserve.