Population of dugongs estimated at 270 in Tamil Nadu

A survey estimates Tamil Nadu's dugong population at 270, marking Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar as India's largest habitat.

The estimated population of dugongs in Tamil Nadu has been put at 270. A survey undertaken by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in collaboration with the Forest Department along the Tamil Nadu coast, has found that there are 158 dugongs in Palk Bay and 112 dugongs in Gulf of Mannar.

“The findings indicate that the dugong population in Tamil Nadu is stable and doing well, says Supriya Sahu, additional chief secretary, Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department.

In a social media post, she said together, Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar now represent the largest viable dugong population in India. This is largely attributed to the implementation of the Dugong Recovery Programme by WII, supported through CAMPA, along with the proactive and sustained conservation efforts of the Forest Department, including community engagement to protect dugongs, she said.

Importantly, the confirmed presence of mother calf pairs provides evidence of active breeding. The report also highlights the notification of the Dugong Conservation Reserve in Palk Bay, covering 448 sq.km of its core habitat by the government, as a significant milestone towards long-term protection of the species, she said.

The UAV survey was carried out in line with standardised protocols and methodology. “The survey has established a benchmark and will be scaled up in future for regular monitoring of the dugong population,” said Dr. J. A. Johnson, Scientist-F, WII, who led the assessment team.

The present study is the first systematic, UAV-based population estimate. The application of standardized fixed-width strip transacts, syncrhonised drone deployments, and availability-bias correction produced reliable density and abundance estimates comparable with international best practices.