Tamil Nadu To Set Up Conservation Reserve For Sea Cows

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The Tamil Nadu government announced plans to set up India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve in the Palk Bay on the southeast coast of the state as per the reports.

The official reports stated that Dugong or sea cow is an endangered marine mammal that is facing extinction due to habitat loss, sea pollution, and loss of seagrass. In Tamil Nadu, the dugong is found in the Gulf of Mannar, which is a shallow bay area between the southeastern tip of Tamil Nadu and the western part of Sri Lanka, and at Palk Bay, a semi-enclosed shallow area in the same region.

The dugong is a sea mammal and the only living species of the order Sirenia. It is restricted to coastal habitat due to seagrass, which forms a major part of its diet. An estimated 200 individuals of dugongs are believed to live in the area which would largely benefit from the Tamil Nadu government’s recent decision to establish a conservation reserve.

Minister of Forests K Ramachandran stated that in order to protect the species, Dugong Marine Conservation Reserve will be established in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay area with community participation. The Marine Conservation Reserve will cover an area of 500km in Palk Bay.

Tamil Nadu Environment Secretary Supriya Sahu in a tweet stated-  “Government of Tamil Nadu will set up India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve in the Palk BayDugong or the sea cow is an endangered marine species & survives on seagrass that is found in the area and the conserve will cover an area of 500 Km.”

 

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