இந்தியாவின் கடல் பசுக்கள் ஏன் அழிவின் விளிம்பில் உள்ளன? காரணம் வலைகளில் சிக்கி மரணமா?

The Critical Decline of India’s Dugong Population
A recent IUCN report warns that India’s dugongs, or "sea cows," are facing an increasingly high risk of extinction. The species is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Conservation Status and Population Data
Dugong populations are small, fragmented, and highly vulnerable across their habitats in India.
• Palk Bay–Gulf of Mannar (Tamil Nadu): The largest group, estimated at 150–200 individuals.
• Andaman & Nicobar Islands: Fewer than 50 individuals.
• Gulf of Kutch (Gujarat): Fewer than 20 individuals, with long-term survival deemed "highly uncertain."
• Total Population: A 2012 government report estimated around 200 individuals. Current estimates range from below 250 to 400-450, though their elusive nature makes accurate counts difficult.
Ecological Significance
Dugongs are "ecosystem engineers" vital to coastal health.
• Guardians of Seagrass: As exclusive herbivores, they consume 30–40 kg of seagrass daily, naturally pruning the meadows, preventing overgrowth, and enhancing carbon storage in sediment. Seagrass ecosystems are among the planet's most efficient carbon sinks.
• Boosting Productivity: Their grazing stirs up sediment, releasing nutrients that support diverse marine life. Research indicates that seagrass habitats with dugongs generate at least ₹2 crore more in annual fish production compared to areas without them.
Primary Threats and Drivers of Decline
• Fishing-Related Mortality: Entanglement in fishing nets is the most common cause of death.
• Habitat Degradation: Coastal development, pollution from industrial discharge and agricultural runoff, and untreated wastewater are destroying the seagrass meadows that dugongs depend on.
• Toxic Contamination: A study of 46 stranded dugongs found dangerous levels of heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, lead) in their organs, indicating severe ecosystem contamination.
• Slow Reproduction: Females give birth only once every several years, a low reproductive rate that severely hampers the population's ability to recover from threats.
Government Conservation Efforts
India has established a Task Force for Dugong Conservation (2010), a national recovery program, and the 448 sq km Dugong Conservation Reserve in Palk Bay (2022). However, experts assert that these efforts must be urgently strengthened with improved monitoring, reduced fishing pressure, and community-inclusive incentive programs to prevent the species' extinction.
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