Tamil Nadu's Thriving Dugong Population: A Conservation Success Story

The dugong population along the Tamil Nadu coast has reached an estimated 270, signaling a stable environment for these endangered marine mammals. This was revealed by a recent assessment conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India, a finding praised as 'big news in wildlife conservation' by top officials.

Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, noted that the assessment was conducted in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. It identified 158 dugongs in Palk Bay and 112 in the Gulf of Mannar, marking these regions as the largest viable dugong population in India.

The success, attributed to the Dugong Recovery Programme, underscores the effective conservation efforts backed by the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). Key milestones include the notification of the Dugong Conservation Reserve and the upcoming Dugong Conservation Centre in Thanjavur District.