Why in the News?
The Union government’s Expert Appraisal Committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has asked Tamil Nadu to revise the design of the proposed International Dugong Conservation Centre at Manora in Thanjavur.
About
- Large, slow moving marine mammal, commonly called sea cow
- Exclusively herbivorous, feeds only on seagrass
- Recognised as a keystone species for seagrass ecosystems
- Scientific name: Dugong dugon
Habitat
- Found in warm, shallow coastal waters of the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean
- Prefers seagrass meadows, estuaries, lagoons and nearshore areas
- Strictly marine species, does not enter freshwater unlike manatees
- IUCN status: Vulnerable as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature
UPSC Prelims Pointers
- Dugong is a marine mammal, not a fish
- Only marine sirenian found in Indian waters
- Depends entirely on seagrass meadows
- Listed as Vulnerable by IUCN
- Protection of dugongs also conserves coastal seagrass ecosystems
| [2015] With reference to ‘dugong’, a mammal found in India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is a herbivorous marine animal 2. It is found along the entire coast of India 3. It is given legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 (d) 3 only |
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