Dugong Distribution in India

A recent UAV-based survey by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) estimates 270 dugongs in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu announces the setting up of India’s first Dugong Conservation Centre, bringing dugong distribution and conservation measures into current focus.

Dugong (Dugong dugon): Distribution, Ecology and Conservation Status

Dimension	Key Details
Common description	Provides for identification as the largest marine herbivorous mammal.
Scientific name	Dugong dugon.
Family	Dugongidae.
Habitat	Applies to calm, sheltered, nutrient-rich shallow waters, usually within 10 metres of depth close to the shore.
Global distribution	Applies to tropical and sub-tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region; comprises an extensive range across 37 countries and territories from East Africa to Vanuatu.
Distribution in India	Comprises Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Gulf of Kutch, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Regional extinction	Provides for extinction of dugongs that inhabited waters off the Odisha, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh coasts two centuries back.
Population	Palk Bay (158 individuals) and Gulf of Mannar (112 individuals) together represent the largest viable dugong population in India.
Conservation reserve	India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve was established in September 2022 by the Tamil Nadu government in the Palk Bay region.
Size	Growth over 300 kg in weight and about 3.0–3.5 metres in length.
Behaviour	Groups limited to 5 to 7 individuals among seagrass beds; during active breeding, mother and calf are found in pairs.
Diet	Mandates consumption of 30 to 40 kg of seagrass a day (per dugong).
Conservation status	Comprises Vulnerable (IUCN Red List).
Legal protection	Regulates protection under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I.
Trade status	Regulates under CITES: Appendix I.
Threats	Comprises habitat degradation, destructive fishing practices, and impacts of climate change.