IUCN Recognises Dugong Conservation Reserve in Palk Bay
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: DH
Context: The IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 (Abu Dhabi) adopted a resolution recognising India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve in Palk Bay, Tamil Nadu as a global model for marine biodiversity conservation.
About IUCN Recognises Dugong Conservation Reserve in Palk Bay:
• What it is?
• India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve, notified in September 2022 under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Recognised by IUCN in 2025 as a pioneering step for marine biodiversity and community-led conservation.
• India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve, notified in September 2022 under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• Recognised by IUCN in 2025 as a pioneering step for marine biodiversity and community-led conservation.
• Located in:
• Covers 448.34 sq km across Thanjavur and Pudukkottai districts, Tamil Nadu. Situated in the northern Palk Bay, harbouring 12,250 hectares of seagrass meadows.
• Covers 448.34 sq km across Thanjavur and Pudukkottai districts, Tamil Nadu.
• Situated in the northern Palk Bay, harbouring 12,250 hectares of seagrass meadows.
• Features:
• Protects Dugong dugon (sea cows), listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Seagrass beds here also support commercial fish, crabs, shrimps, benefitting marginal fishermen.
• Protects Dugong dugon (sea cows), listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
• Seagrass beds here also support commercial fish, crabs, shrimps, benefitting marginal fishermen.
About Dugong:
• What it is?
• A large marine herbivorous mammal, commonly called “sea cow”. Only strictly herbivorous marine mammal in existence.
• A large marine herbivorous mammal, commonly called “sea cow”.
• Only strictly herbivorous marine mammal in existence.
• Scientific name: Dugong dugon
• Region found in:
• Distributed across tropical and subtropical seagrass meadows of the Indian Ocean and western Pacific. In India → major populations in Palk Bay, Gulf of Mannar, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Gulf of Kutch.
• Distributed across tropical and subtropical seagrass meadows of the Indian Ocean and western Pacific.
• In India → major populations in Palk Bay, Gulf of Mannar, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Gulf of Kutch.
• Features:
• Physical: Size: 3–3.5 m long, weight > 300 kg. Paddle-like flippers, dolphin-like tail. Grey-brown skin, rounded snout for grazing seagrass. Biological: Diet: Consumes 30–40 kg of seagrass daily (species like Halodule, Halophila, Cymodocea). Lifespan: Up to 70 years, but very low reproductive rate (long calving intervals).
• Physical: Size: 3–3.5 m long, weight > 300 kg. Paddle-like flippers, dolphin-like tail. Grey-brown skin, rounded snout for grazing seagrass.
• Size: 3–3.5 m long, weight > 300 kg.
• Paddle-like flippers, dolphin-like tail.
• Grey-brown skin, rounded snout for grazing seagrass.
• Biological: Diet: Consumes 30–40 kg of seagrass daily (species like Halodule, Halophila, Cymodocea). Lifespan: Up to 70 years, but very low reproductive rate (long calving intervals).
• Diet: Consumes 30–40 kg of seagrass daily (species like Halodule, Halophila, Cymodocea).
• Lifespan: Up to 70 years, but very low reproductive rate (long calving intervals).