Dugong Redux

In a double deelight, tamil nadu has recorded a threat within the inhabitants of dugongs, a regional endangered species, and the state’s efforts to guard the ocean mammals that was on the intense Gained Worldwide Recognition as a mannequin. A multi-pronged conservation effort by the federal government, supported by the wildlife institute of India (wii), specializing in prevention of poaching, rescue and launch, Group Involvement and Hupitation Resto. Contributed to the restoration of the mammals within the palk bay and the gulf of mannar (the PB-GOM area) alongside the tamil nadu coast.

Generally Often called Sea Cows, Dugongs (Dugong dugon) Are also known as the “farmers or gardeners of the ocean” for his or her necessary function in preserving the coastal ecosystems and aiding fish manufacturing. Rising as much as three metres lengthy and weighting over 400 kg, these mild giants are present in heat watters alongside Lagoons. They’re discovered within the Gulf of Mannar, The Palk Bay, The Gulf of Kutch and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India. Dugongs are primarily herbivorous, grazing on 30 kg-40 kg of seagrass a day.

The speech is listed as susceptible to extinction on the Worldwide Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Crimson Checklist. As soon as Considerable in Indian Waters, Dugongs are protected below schedule I of the wild life (Safety) Act, 1972. Components, Together with Trying to find Meat, Business Fishing Practices Resulting in Unintended Drowning, and Habitat Degradation.

In a significant measure to guard the speech, the federal government, in September 2022, notified 448.34 sq. kilometers within the Northern Palk Bay as a Dugong Conservation Reserve, UNDERG Act. The area is residence to over 12,250 hectares of seagrass meadows, an important feeding floor for dugongs.

IUCN Recognition

Final week, the Iucn formally adopted a movement recognizing India’s first dugong conservation reserve within the palk bay unfold over thanjavur and pudukkottai distrits. The movement, proposed by the Omcar (Group for Marine Conservation, Consciousness and Analysis) In Abu Dhabi, with overwhelming help from members worldwide in on-line voting. Chief Minister mk stalin took to x to announs it and admire the Tamil Nadu Forest Division and Conservation Companions for his or her efforts in securing the code.

The movement is recorded and appreciated the reserve as a “Essential step in the direction of marine biodiversity conservation in south asia and an exhibary mannequin for dugong Conservation Globally”. It additionally welcomed the progressive eco-friendly restaurations, which contain the usage of bamboo frames, to advertise seagrass habitat restoration.

The recording got here because the icing on the cake as a current survey carried out by India. The drone survey, performed between march and will this yr by the wii, have estimated that the area is now residence to greater than 200 dugongs.

“We’ve got completes the drone survey, with a standardized method, protecting the palk bay space from adhirampattinam to ammapattinam, the dugong conservation reserrve space, moreover the south palak bay area in in Ramanathapuram Division and the Gulf of Mannar. Scientist, Wii, Informed The HinduBased on Him, the nation was estimated to have round 250 dugongs within the three habitats in 2012-13. Given the huge seagrass meadows right here, The Tamil Nadu Coast All the time Had the Larget Inhabitants.

India is believed to have had a big dugong inhabitants 70-80 years in the past, however loads of them ware haunted for meat down the years earlier than their got here to be authorized Scientist, wii, at the moment a professor within the division of ecology and environmental sciences of the pondicherry college. “There was no direct sightings of the animal by reserchers after the Nineteen Seventies. Subsequently, The Central Authorities Constrated A Activity Power Power for Conservation of Dugongs in India, and a Nationwide Dugong Restoration Programme was launched in Partnered in Partnered in Partnership with the GOWRNMENTS OF TAMERNMENTS OF TAMINMENTS OF TAMARNMENTS OF Andaman and nicobar islands, which was alredy finishing up conservation efforts. The initiative was additionally funded by the compensatory afforestation fund administration and planning authority (Campa) of the union ministry of setting, forest and Local weather Change.

Poaching checked

“Step one was to cease poaching. Because of the attention measures, poaching has nearly been eradicated now, thought instals of dugongs gotting Caugt in Fishing Nets and Drowning Frequent to Breathe) Are Being Sporadically. Efforts, “Dr. Sivakumar provides.

“The conservation efforts have positively contributed to the rise quantity. The tamil nadu forest division has been proactive and the involvement of native communities and the ngos can also be additionally commentedable. Reserve was an enormous step because it introduced loads of challenges, “stated Dr. Johnson.

“The Dugong’s Return Exhibits How Authorities Motion, Science and Communities Can Togetra Script a Uncommon Species Revival,” Mentioned Supriya Sahu, Addnal CHIEF SECRETARY, Surroundings, Surroundings, Local weather Change and Forests, Tamil Nadu, In A Put up on X. Chatting with The HinduShe attributeed the success of the conservation efforts to the robust political will, Bureaucratic Dedication, and Glorious Execution Technique within the State. “The Actions Initiated Over the Previous 4 Years are A part of a Bigger Imaginative and prescient of the State Authorities – that Conservation needs to be a precedence. Each particular species is necessary and it’s a legacy we wish for the Subsequent Era. It’s a very robust conservation pitch, “She stated.

The state, she stated, had gone about dugong conservation in a really systematic method. “We began with loads of analysis, scientific proof, and knowledge. The speech is very endangered and if we had not supplied authorized safety, they may have been discovered,” SAID, ” Notification of the reserve as a robust authorized and revolutionary motion taken by the state.

This, she stated, was backed by measures geared toward habitat restauration, and involving the finding the native communities to make fisherfolk the primary responders in Rescue efforts. “Dugongs are necessary in defending the coastal ecoSystem. Habitat restoration is essential; if the habitats disappear, the speech disappears. Coastal Administration, The Suganthi Devadason Marine Analysis Institute and Native Ngos, Reminiscent of Omcar Basis, to Execute Our Technique, Together with Seagras Restoration, “SAI SAD Initially, the actions have been taken up below the Japan Worldwide Cooperation Company (Jica) -Supported Tamil Nadu Bioduersity Conservation and Greening Challenge for CLIMETE CLIMETE CHENGETE REPON REPONSE Now, the initiatives are supported below the tamil nadu coastal restoration mission (TN-shore) too.

Since Group Participation is essential for Sustainable Conservation, About 150 Consciousness Programmes Have Been Performed Amongst Fisherfolk and Self-Assist Members to SENSITISE to SENSITISE Significance of dugong conservation and how one can rescue them after they get entangled in fishing nets. Because of the packages, 9 rescues have been carried out within the final two years. “We’re additionally compensating the fish for the lack of nets that are reduce throughout rescue. Analysis Establishments, and Ngos Have All Rallied Round Dugongs, ”MS. Sahu Affirmed.

“The outreach packages have been a part of a method to drive residence the message to the coastal villages that safety of dugongs and their habitats can be be useful to the Fishermen within the Forest Official in Pudukkottai.

As a part of the outreach, a scholarship program was launched for the kid of fisherfolk as a socio-economyic survey indicated a excessive dropout price amongst faculty college students within the coastal villages. “We Known as Them Dugong Ambassadors and Reaches the Fishers By means of them legs brings a couple of change in mindt,” Says Dr. Sivakumar.

AlongSide Sensitiation Programmes, The Forest Division in Pudukkottai and Thanjavur had taken up the duty of restoring seagrass meadows with the involvement of omcar basis. “Restoration is a laborous train and takes time; The restoration was carried out at websites chosen primarily based on Drone imagery within the Dugong Conservation Reserve within the Palk Bay. In pudukkottai district, it coated 1,000 Sq. metres to Set up seagrass patches in 10 completely different websites through the use of eco-friendly bamboo frames and cir ropes.

Biodegradable supplies have been used to make sure sustainable restauration with inflicting any hurt to the pure setting beneath the ocean, stated the official. Involving Native Fisherfolk, Wholesome Seagrass Sprigs of Syringodium isoetifolium, Cymodocea serroulata and Halodule Pinifolia Have been transplanted fastidiously within the designated space within the sea. An analogous initiative on 1,000 sq. metres was taken up Alongside “Over the previous 4 years, now we have restored 31 acres of Seagrass Habitat Below Varied Initiatives, Together with TN-Shore,” MS. Sahu stated.

Conservation middle

The state had additionally determined to arrange a global dugong conservation middle at manora, a preferred picnic spot alongside the palk bay. This will probably be a singular middle with a number of components. It is going to give an extra push to elevating consciousness and maintain the speech in focus in order that it Rallies EVryone. For Resarchers and College students.

Regardless of the success of the efforts, specialists say there’s nonetheless a lot work to be executed. “Seagrass Beds are sometimes Broken by the Use of Drag Web Utilized by Nation Boats and the Motion of Boats, Moreover different elements. Balaji. Consultants additionally Emphasis the Want for Stronger Regional Cooperation, Particularly with Sri Lanka, as Dugongs Journey Lengthy Distances and Transfer to the Sri Lankan Shoil Nadu Shoreline. Underlining the significance of sustaining the conservation efforts, Dr. Sivakumar stated, “Now that now we have began seeing the outcomes, we must always not allow them to go to waste.”