Every year, May 28th is celebrated as World Dugong Day.
About Dugong:
Dugongs (Dugong dugon) are the only herbivorous mammals found in India’s marine ecosystems.
Appearance: It is known as the sea cow, but resembles a cross between a seal and a whale, and is distributed through the Indo-Pacific region.
Distribution: They are found along the Indian coastline, primarily inhabiting warm waters around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, and the Gulf of Kutch. The dugong is a long-lived species, able to live up to 70 years.
Habitat: Due to their dependence on seagrass beds for habitat and food, dugongs are restricted to shallow waters, where they spend the day feeding on seagrasses of the genera Cymodocea, Halophila, Thalassia, and Halodule.
Reproduction:
Individuals reach reproductive maturity after only nine or ten years and can give birth at intervals of around three to five years.
Due to its slow reproductive cycle, extended time to maturity, and infrequent calving, a dugong population’s maximum potential growth rate is estimated to be just about 5% per year.
Conservation status
IUCN: Vulnerable
CITES: Appendix I
Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule I
Threats: The threats they face worldwide include rapidly declining populations and the ongoing degradation of their seagrass habitats.
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